Accessibility at Intel
Intel’s integrated approach to accessibility unlocks technology, creating equitable computing experiences for all.
Intel’s Integrated Approach to Accessibility
Technology is an integral tool to help people with disabilities live independently and participate fully in all aspects of life. It is so critical it is considered a fundamental human right, according to the
United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. At Intel, we embrace accessibility across our business. We strive for an inclusive and accessible workplace; we practice inclusive design in product development, and we engage with industry to advance accessibility across the tech ecosystem.
Accessibility and our Path
We have committed to making technology fully inclusive, expanding digital readiness, and advancing accessibility.
We will have increased the percentage of employees who self-identify as having a disability to 10 percent of our workforce.
All user experience teams will have adopted inclusive design and research practices with the relevant operational support.
Every client computing platform we produce will expand accessibility for more people than the one before.
A Great Place to Work
Intel understands that every employee plays an essential role in creating an environment where everyone is inspired to innovate, achieve their best, and feel a sense of belonging. Everything from our robust accommodations processes to our standard platforms for virtual meetings that have recording options, transcription and captioning available in several languages, Intel is a great place to work.
In 2024, for the eighth year in a row, Disability:IN gave Intel the maximum score of 100 in the Disability Equality Index and named Intel one of the Best Places to Work for People with Disabilities.
Accessibility Operating Model
Intel’s accessibility operating model is comprised of a cross-organizational team that touches almost every part of the company. The group focuses on maturing accessibility across our operations—from making all campuses accessible to working with suppliers to meet our accessibility standards and ensuring our products comply with global accessibility requirements.
Building an Inclusive Culture
Our Employee Groups, including Intel Disabilities Employee Resource Group, play a key role in building a stronger community across Intel. These groups are formed around shared attributes and goals, and are open to anyone and everyone, with the opportunity to opt in or out at every employee's discretion.
Intel Name Sign
In 2021, the Intel Disability and Accessibility Network introduced Intel’s name sign. To sign this, start with making the sign for the letter “i” by holding up your dominant hand in a fist, palm facing out, with only your pinkie finger sticking up straight. Then you add a spark by opening your palm and wiggling your fingers as you move your hand backwards.
How We Make Products
Intel strives to build our products to the highest accessibility standards because we believe our products should be accessible for all and because we must comply with forthcoming regulations around the world. Section 508 Accessibility Conformance Reports for Intel® Software Development Products are available for review.
Inclusive Design
Accessibility is at the heart of inclusive design. We are on a journey to have all user experience teams at Intel adopt inclusive design and research practices, along with building out the operational support for these inclusive practices. The key question we ask is “who might we be excluding?” and we ask it during research planning, when writing requirements, and even when looking at the makeup of our teams. When we are intentional about accessibility and including people with disabilities as early as possible in the product design lifecycle, we create better products and services for everyone.
Accessible Technology
Our Accessible Technology Program sparks innovation by engaging in research, driving technology development, and piloting accessible technology projects through mechanisms like our Intel RISE Technology Initiative.
Intel’s Assistive Context Aware Toolkit
Intel’s open-source Assistive Context-Aware Toolkit (ACAT), developed by Lama Nachman and the Human & AI Research Systems team, was developed to enable people with motor neuron diseases and other disabilities to have full access to the capabilities and applications of their computers through very constrained interfaces suitable for their conditions. Originally built for Stephen Hawking, the benefits of the system are finding new, wide-ranging uses every day.
Changing the Industry
At Intel, we are proud to work with a variety of stakeholders to engage in joint research, develop new technologies and ultimately scale accessible computing experiences.
Memberships and Sponsorships
Intel is a founding member of the Alliance for Global Inclusion and The Valuable 500. Intel is a founding sponsor of the GAAD Foundation and a contributor to several of the W3C Working Groups and Tasks Forces, collaborating to advance accessibility strategies and standards.
From the Intel Newsroom
Communicating on Instagram Without Typing
A system created to help Stephen Hawking communicate inspires a new AR effect on Instagram.
Intel Helps Give Voice to People with MND
Intel joins Dell Technologies, Rolls-Royce and the Motor Neurone Disease Association to launch digital voice banking book.
Intel, GoodMaps Work on Safe Indoor Navigation
Benefiting from the Intel RISE Technology Initiative, GoodMaps helps the blind and visually impaired find their way indoors.
Interact with a Computer Without Touching It
UCL, in collaboration with Intel, Microsoft and IBM, develops UCL MotionInput V3, a software for touchless computing.