Dear Valued Readers,
Welcome to Continual Engine (CE)’s February Newsletter! This month, we bring you the latest updates on our accessibility initiatives, innovative AI applications, and collaborative efforts that are shaping inclusive digital experiences at scale. As 2026 continues to unfold, we reflect on lessons learned, progress made, and the opportunities ahead to further advance accessible digital content for all. We’re also sharing highlights from recent events, a preview of upcoming engagements, and insights from our latest blog articles and news stories related to AI and accessibility.
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- Upcoming Events: Continual Engine will be exhibiting at the Accessible and Inclusive Digital Library (AIDL)-2026 Conference and will also be presenting and exhibiting at the CSUN Assistive Technology Conference 2026
- Past Events: Continual Engine hosted a PREP Training Webinar & Navigating ADA Title II Compliance Webinar with Ken Nakata & Kristin Yokota
- Gain Insights from Our Blogs on Accessibility: Why Inter-Format Document Conversion Matters More Than You Think?, Everything You Need to Know About AODA Compliance and Accessibility, ADA Compliance Made Simple for Educational Institutions
- Discover the Latest News Articles that Include:
- How AI Tools Can Redefine Universal Design to Increase Accessibility
- ADA Title II and You
- DOJ Signals Changes to ADA Title II Web Accessibility Rule: What We Know So Far
- Branding and AI-High Tech Without High Touch?
- Local Governments Take a Leadership Role on AI Education
- Are States Ready for the Approaching Accessibility Deadline?
- Discussing AI From An Accessibility and Usability View
- How An Accessibility Designer Adds Keyboard Shortcuts to a Web App
We aim to bring you engaging, insightful, and relevant updates on accessibility and compliance through these newsletters. We welcome any feedback or questions.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Continual Engine Will Be Exhibiting at the AIDL Conference 2026
Continual Engine Will Be Presenting & Exhibiting at the CSUN 2026 Conference
Continual Engine will be presenting and exhibiting at the CSUN Assistive Technology Conference 2026, just a few days away in Anaheim (March 9–13). We will be presenting a session, “From Compliance to Culture – Scaling Document Accessibility with AI” (March 13, 10:20 AM PT), co-presented with Vijayshree (VJ) Vethantham and Tatyana Boone from Franklin Templeton, focusing on how organizations can scale accessibility across enterprise document workflows. You can also meet our team at Booths #410 & #412 throughout the week.
PAST EVENT
Continual Engine Hosted A PREP Practical Training Webinar
Continual Engine recently hosted a PREP Practical Training webinar focused on addressing real-world accessibility challenges in complex PDFs. Titled “PREP Power Hour: Fixing Complex Layouts, Visuals, and Content Structure to Make PDFs Accessible,” the session was led by Shubham Doval, Client Excellence Lead at Continual Engine. It explored how teams can move beyond identifying issues to effectively remediating multi-column layouts, complex tables, charts, images, and structural tagging challenges—while aligning with requirements such as ADA Title II, Section 504, WCAG, PDF/UA, and the European Accessibility Act (EAA). The session provided practical, hands-on guidance for building scalable remediation workflows across large and complex document sets.
Continual Engine Hosted a Webinar on ADA Title II Compliance
Continual Engine hosted a webinar on ADA Title II compliance, focusing on how organizations can navigate the growing complexity of aligning WCAG, PDF/UA, and ADA requirements at scale. The session, “Navigating ADA Title II Compliance: Meeting WCAG and PDF/UA Accessibility Requirements,” was hosted by Kristin Yokota, AVP of Sales at Continual Engine, and featured Ken Nakata, Principal at Converge Accessibility and former Senior Trial Attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice. The discussion explored how these standards intersect in real-world scenarios, common gaps in scaling accessible documents, the role of automation alongside human expertise, and practical approaches to building sustainable, audit-ready accessibility workflows.
LATEST BLOGS ON ACCESSIBILITY
Why Inter-Format Document Conversion Matters More Than You Think?
Everything You Need to Know About AODA Compliance and Accessibility
Ensuring digital and physical spaces are accessible to all individuals is not just a moral responsibility, but also a legal one in Ontario. The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) outlines clear standards that organizations must follow to create inclusive environments for people with disabilities. This article will guide you through the essential elements of AODA compliance, including who it applies to, what needs to be done, and how it contributes to building a more accessible and equitable society. Let’s jump right into it.
ADA Compliance Made Simple for Educational Institutions
Educational institutions play a critical role in ensuring equal access for all students, including those with disabilities. With the latest updates to ADA Title II, schools, colleges, and universities must review their digital and physical environments to meet accessibility standards. This blog provides a straightforward overview of what compliance looks like in educational settings and outlines practical steps institutions can take to meet these legal and ethical responsibilities. Let’s get started.
NEWS ARTICLES ON ACCESSIBILITY
How AI Tools Can Redefine Universal Design to Increase Accessibility
At Google, we believe in building for everyone, and accessibility (A11y) is a key part of that. Our teams work with communities to build products with and for people with disabilities, incorporating accessibility from the beginning of the development process. Today, generative AI provides us with the opportunity to make our tools even more personal and adaptive.
ADA Title II and You
Beginning April 24, 2026, public universities must ensure that websites, mobile apps, and digital content meet ADA Title II accessibility requirements. Limited exceptions may apply under specific conditions, as outlined below.
DOJ Signals Changes to ADA Title II Web Accessibility Rule: What We Know So Far
The Department of Justice submitted an Interim Final Rule to OIRA on February 13, 2026, indicating modifications to the ADA Title II web accessibility regulation are coming. Here’s what government entities, higher education institutions, and compliance teams need to know.
Branding and AI-High Tech Without High Touch?
AI is revolutionizing how brands come to life, but it also brings potential hazards. The danger of content uniformity looms, risking audience confusion and a misalignment with the brand’s true essence. Emphasizing human intervention is essential, allowing brands to navigate AI’s limitations and cultural nuances effectively. Furthermore, biases embedded in AI can erode customer trust.
Local Governments Take a Leadership Role on AI Education
A new AI training initiative in Mesa, Ariz., offers free education to staff and residents, building on a broader trend of local governments investing in AI literacy. Mesa city officials unveiled the initiative earlier this month, which can be taken online or in person by anyone with a library card. The training is “foundational” for other AI applications the city is looking to explore, according to Ian Linssen, assistant to the city manager. Linssen helps oversee technology innovation initiatives in the city.
Are States Ready for the Approaching Accessibility Deadline?
Updates to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) require all states to ensure their digital products — from websites to apps — are accessible for people with disabilities; as the April deadline for compliance approaches, some states are ready, while others have further work to do. The Department of Justice issued a rule in April 2024 requiring content on government websites and mobile applications to be accessible and usable for people with disabilities.
Discussing AI From An Accessibility and Usability View
Frequent discussions about accessibility and artificial intelligence (AI) are nothing new, as the ongoing progression towards AI implementation in many devices continues today. Some of my previous articles give a strong hint at where AI may be implemented within the category of digital accessibility, and recent developments in smart technology mean that it is highly likely that, in a very short period, the term AI will no longer be identified as something new, but something mainstream.
How An Accessibility Designer Adds Keyboard Shortcuts to a Web App
This is another window into the sometimes unglamorous-yet-vital tasks that being an accessibility designer demands. Keyboard shortcuts occupy a strange area for web design. Most websites don’t have them, and that’s totally fine. However, it makes more sense for web apps to utilize them. Web apps utilize keyboard shortcuts for speedier navigation and operation, for people who want or need to spend extended periods of time using the service. It’s the same as non-web apps.
