AI & Disability: Key Findings from the U.S. Access Board's Landmark Presentation
- Jose Velez
- Jan 14
- 3 min read
Today, the U.S. Access Board presented groundbreaking findings on artificial intelligence's impact on the disability community. This comprehensive report reveals both opportunities and challenges in ensuring AI technologies remain accessible and equitable for all Americans.
What You Need to Know
The presentation marks a crucial milestone following the Executive Order on Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence. Through collaboration with the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) and the Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT), the Access Board is working to ensure people with disabilities benefit from AI while being protected from its risks.
"AI represents both unprecedented opportunity and unique challenges for the disability community. Our task is to maximize the former while protecting against the latter."
- U.S. Access Board, 2025 Preliminary Findings
The Promise of AI Technology
Several breakthrough capabilities were highlighted during the presentation:
Real-time captioning and transcription services
Enhanced screen readers with improved context understanding
Smart image and video description technology
Predictive writing assistance tools
Bias reduction in hiring processes
Enhanced digital experiences at scale
Key Challenges to Address
However, significant concerns were also raised:
* Risk of automated discrimination in decision-making
* Privacy concerns with disability-related data
* Accuracy issues in speech recognition
* Potential for perpetuating existing biases
* Statistical discrimination in AI systems
Employment Impact: EEOC Findings
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission identified three critical areas requiring attention:
Reasonable Accommodations
Need for accessible AI tools in hiring
Importance of alternative testing formats
Requirements for clear accommodation notices
Medical Privacy Protection
Safeguarding disability-related information
Preventing unauthorized medical inquiries
Maintaining confidentiality standards
Discrimination Prevention
Addressing AI screening bias
Ensuring job-relevant assessment criteria
Establishing vendor accountability
Communication Access: FCC Perspective
The Federal Communications Commission highlighted several priority areas:
AI-enhanced telecommunications relay services
Improved video conferencing accessibility
Automated sign language interpretation
Enhanced caption accuracy standards
Voice call authentication systems
The Data Challenge
One of the most significant findings concerns how AI systems handle data. Current systems tend to:
Optimize for statistical averages
Potentially exclude edge cases
Lack diverse disability representation
Amplify existing societal biases
Recommended Solutions
The Access Board outlined several key recommendations:
Data and Training
Develop more inclusive datasets
Ensure representation of diverse experiences
Implement comprehensive bias testing
Governance
Create clear accessibility standards
Establish accountability mechanisms
Maintain human oversight in critical decisions
Technical Standards
Develop accessibility benchmarks
Create evaluation metrics
Implement testing protocols
Community Engagement
Ensure meaningful participation
Foster cross-sector collaboration
Promote ongoing dialogue
Moving Forward
The Access Board has outlined concrete next steps:
Continuing public feedback collection
Developing technical guidance materials
Coordinating with partner agencies
Monitoring AI developments
Regular impact assessments
Get Involved
Want to contribute to this important work? Here's how:
Visit www.access-board.gov/ai/
Email ai@access-board.gov
Follow the Access Board on social media
Participate in upcoming public forums
At Velez Law Group LLC, we are firmly committed to supporting those who seek equality and accessibility in housing and employment. We are here to help you understand and exercise your rights.
📞 Phone: 787-422-1881
✉️ Email: VLG@VELEZLAWGROUP.COM
🌐 Website: www.velezlawgroup.com
About Velez Law Group LLC
Velez Law Group LLC is a leading civil rights firm dedicated to ensuring equal access and compliance with fundamental regulations such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Under the leadership of José Vélez, the firm has distinguished itself in Puerto Rico by driving significant improvements in accessibility within institutional environments. With recent accomplishments in landmark cases, we have transformed access to services and public spaces, actively defending the rights of those who seek to live barrier-free and on equal terms.
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