by Daniel Parker, RDPFS Contributor:
The accessibility providers Aira and Vispero have announced a new partnership with the goal of helping web developers make their content more accessible. Aira helps people with vision loss complete tasks and solve problems via “human-to-human interaction” with trained professional interpreters. Vispero is the company which now owns brands like Freedom Scientific, the developer of the JAWS screen reader, ZoomText screen magnifier, and a combination of the two called Fusion, as well as various hardware solutions. In the new partnership, Aira’s interpreters will report website accessibility issues they find to Vispero’s accessibility solutions brand, TPGi. TPGi will then contact the developer of the website, listing the findings and recommending fixes. This process aims to help developers take the initiative in improving accessibility before they run into problems with end users. As Vispero’s Vice-President Matt Ater explained, “‘Most organizations do not intentionally block users from accessing their site—they are simply unaware these issues exist. With JAWS® for Windows at the core of our business, Vispero has the expertise, experience, and unique understanding of the complexities of digital accessibility. Our partnership with Aira will benefit these organizations by transparently communicating barriers faced by users of screen reading software such as JAWS. Ultimately, our goal is to drive awareness and provide the tools necessary for equal access.’” Aira CEO Troy Otillio added, “‘We are thrilled to partner with Vispero again. Their leadership in assistive technology aligns well with our strategic vision of removing accessibility barriers. Our team aims to provide the best remote assistance while recognizing the importance of inclusivity. This partnership will further help to advance our shared objective.’” More information is available in this press release from Vispero.
