Dear Valued Readers,
Welcome to Continual Engine (CE)’s December Newsletter! As the year comes to a close, this edition reflects on the progress, learning, and collaboration that have shaped our work in accessibility throughout the year. Inside, you’ll find updates on recent accessibility initiatives, thoughtful applications of AI, and efforts focused on making digital experiences more inclusive at scale. We’re also sharing highlights from recent events, a look ahead to upcoming engagements, as we prepare for the year ahead.
-
- Upcoming Event: Continual Engine will be hosting a PREP Training Webinar and will be exhibiting at the ATIA 2026 Conference
- Past Event: Dr. Kumar and Dr. Sriram attended as speakers at the RCDA Loyola’s Assistive Technology Workshop
- Gain Insights from Our Latest Blogs on Accessibility:
- Discover the Latest News Articles that Include:
-
- Canada Releases World’s First Standard on Accessible and Equitable AI,
- From Personalized to Programmed: The Use of Generative AI to Develop Individualized Education Programs for Students with Disabilities,
- Braille to Feature on Syria’s New Banknotes, Central Bank Says,
- Between Doom and Hype: How to Build AI So That it Helps People and Planet,
- Why Climate Solutions Need to be Disability Friendly,
- Why Kuwait’s Accessibility Design Code Still Waits to be Realized,
- UDOIT, Accessibility, and Higher Ed Innovation: A Conversation with Morgan Busch, CPACC
-
We aim to bring you engaging, insightful, and relevant updates on accessibility and compliance through these newsletters. We welcome any feedback or questions.
Warm Regards,
Continual Engine
UPCOMING EVENTS
Continual Engine to Host Webinar on Scaling PDF Accessibility with Templates
Continual Engine will be hosting an upcoming webinar titled “PREP Power Hour: Practical Training with Templates and Similar Structures” on January 15, 2026, at 12 PM ET. Designed for higher education teams managing large volumes of similar PDFs, this interactive session will focus on practical approaches to scaling document accessibility without compromising accuracy or compliance.
The session will be led by Shubham Doval, Client Excellence Lead at Continual Engine. The webinar will cover how to identify documents suitable for template-based remediation, distinguish between static and complex templates, and reuse structures to reduce repetitive work. Participants will also learn how integrating PREP with LMS workflows can help deliver accessible content to students more efficiently.
Register now and book your seat to participate in this hands-on training session.
Continual Engine Set to Participate in the ATIA Conference 2026
Continual Engine will be exhibiting at the ATIA Conference 2026, taking place from January 29–31, 2026, at the Orlando World Center Marriott. At the conference, our team will be showcasing how our AI-driven accessibility solutions support organizations in scaling document and web accessibility. We look forward to connecting with the community, sharing insights, and contributing to the broader mission of accessibility for all.
PAST EVENT
Dr. Kumar and Dr. Sriram Invited to Speak at RCDA Loyola’s Assistive Technology Workshop
Our advisors at Continual Engine, Dr. B.S.M. Kumar and Dr. K. Sriram, conducted an assistive technology workshop at RCDA Loyola, engaging with students and members of the Disability Support Group on the practical use of assistive tools to support accessible learning. The session focused on how AI technology can enable greater independence and participation for differently abled students, particularly those with visual impairments, as part of a broader inclusion-focused event at the college.
LATEST BLOGS ON ACCESSIBILITY
How Governments Can Enhance Digital Inclusion and Accessibility
Digital inclusion in government means ensuring every citizen, regardless of their abilities, age, or location, can access and benefit from online public services. It focuses on following the inclusive digital government practices where websites, portals, and digital documents are designed to be accessible, equitable, and user-friendly for all.
What is A11Y? Why is It Important?
A11Y, short for “accessibility”, is a numeronym that replaces the 11 letters between “A” and “Y” in the word “accessibility.” It ensures that websites, documents, and digital interfaces can be accessed, understood, and interacted with by all users, whether they use a mouse, a screen reader, voice commands, or other assistive technology.
ADA vs WCAG vs Section 508
If you’re responsible for a website, app, or digital service, you’ve likely heard of ADA, WCAG, and Section 508. These terms often come up when talking about accessibility, but they don’t mean the same thing. Whether you’re part of a government agency, a school, a municipality, or a private business, knowing how these standards apply to you is important.
HTML-Required vs ARIA-Required: A Detailed Comparison
Have you ever encountered a form that appears to obscure the essential information you need to fill in? This can be particularly frustrating for individuals who rely on screen readers or other assistive technologies to navigate the web. In the vast landscape of websites, forms serve as crucial connections between you and your visitors.
NEWS ARTICLES ON ACCESSIBILITY
Canada Releases World’s First Standard on Accessible and Equitable AI
Accessibility Standards Canada announced today the publication of the CAN-ASC-6.2 – Accessible and Equitable Artificial Intelligence Systems standard. This equity-based standard is the first National Standard of Canada focused specifically on accessible artificial intelligence (AI). Its release coincides with International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD), highlighting Canada’s commitment to advancing accessibility and inclusion.
From Personalized to Programmed: The Use of Generative AI to Develop Individualized Education Programs for Students with Disabilities
The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in schools is becoming more commonplace, including the use of generative AI models to develop individualized education programs (IEPs) for disabled students. A recent poll from the Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) found that 57% of teachers reported using AI to develop an IEP or 504 plan during the 2024-2025 school year — an 18 point increase from the previous school year.
Braille to Feature on Syria’s New Banknotes, Central Bank Says
The Central Bank of Syria has decided to include raised tactile printing on the country’s upcoming banknote series to help blind and visually impaired people independently distinguish denominations, according to Governor Abdul Qader Hasriyeh.
Between Doom and Hype: How to Build AI So That it Helps People and Planet
Global markets remain gripped by one question: will the billions pouring into artificial intelligence pay off? Public conversations swing between extremes. At one end, there is concern about how AI will be used. There is hype that AI, if left unchecked, will become so powerful it could cause vast unemployment and introduce major systemic risks.
Why Climate Solutions Need to be Disability Friendly
A Belgian woman with disabilities, living near Liège, survived a nightmare in 2021. France – the woman in question – is deaf, visually impaired, and uses a wheelchair. She had to crawl up the building’s stairs to save herself from drowning when she was caught in the catastrophic floods of that year.
Why Kuwait’s Accessibility Design Code Still Waits to be Realized
For people with disabilities in Kuwait, something as ordinary as crossing a street, boarding a bus, or entering a building can turn into a daily struggle, a reality the Kuwait Society for the Handicapped says must change urgently. Although Kuwait introduced its universal design code for accessibility in 2018, a comprehensive framework aimed at making all buildings and public spaces accessible, the society said that the code remains largely unimplemented.
UDOIT, Accessibility, and Higher Ed Innovation: A Conversation with Morgan Busch, CPACC
In this episode of United in Accessibility Morgan Bush, a software engineer at the University of Central Florida (UCF), discussed his journey in digital accessibility. He highlighted his work on the UDOIT project, an open-source accessibility checker for Canvas, which was upgraded to IBM Equal Access. Bush emphasized the importance of proactive accessibility measures and noted challenges in faculty adoption, with less than half using the tool, and plans to make it more accessible for smaller institutions. Bush received the 2025 IAAP Impact Award for his contributions.
