Virtual Communication Access

Hybrid meeting with people around a conference table looking at a screen with remote participants. Image by freepik.

Virtual communication through digital platforms, rather than face-to-face interactions, has changed the landscape of communication access. Everyone should be able to communicate and be communicated with fully and equally in order to benefit from these digital interactions. 

Now that telehealth, online school, and virtual workplaces are common, the Virtual Communication Access group explores what constitutes an accessible communication experience in virtual contexts. And, what makes or breaks access to that communication? 

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Group Content

Discussion

What are your biggest online accessibility frustrations? | GAAD 2026

May 21 is Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD), an annual event that draws attention to digital access and inclusive design. Digital accessibility is about making sure everyone can use websites, apps, and online tools and services. GAAD started in 2012 and has since become a touchpoint for developers, designers, and technology companies to consider how well their products work for people with…

Discussion

CMS and HHS Seek Public Input on Digital Health Tools for Medicare

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), including the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy (ASTP) and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC), are requesting public feedback to help shape the future of digital health. What This Is About: CMS and ASTP/ONC are asking for input on the current…

Event

ETSI STQ Conference - Communications for All

ETSI STQ Conference: Communications for All, Supporting Diversity and Accessibility through Quality of End-to-end Network Transmission and Devices in Human-to-human and Human-to-machine Communication 13-14 May 2025 ETSI, Sophia Antipolis France The ETSI Technical Committee on S peech and multimedia T ransmission Q uality ( TC STQ ) is pleased to announce our conference on Communications for All.…

Discussion

Consumers’ experiences accessing customer service assistance in the communications industry.

The FCC released a Notice of Inquiry (NOI) seeking information about consumers’ experiences accessing customer service assistance in the communications industry. The NOI asks commenters to discuss ways to ensure that customer service for cable, satellite, voice, and internet providers is accessible, efficient, and informative. The NOI specifically seeks comment on the current state of customer…

Government documents

#DidYouKnow: EEOC and Job Accommodation Network Provide Information on Tech Accommodations in the Workplace

Technology continues to evolve at the speed of human ingenuity, which means that the broad antidiscrimination mandates of the ADA must continually be applied to new situations. Fortunately, technology offers many innovative tools to make life more accessible and eliminate barriers to equal opportunity. Some of these technological tools are described in the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's…