Connecting Everyday Independence to Opportunity in the Modern Workforce

Accessible technology is doing more than simplifying tasks. It is removing communication barriers.

For individuals who are blind, have low vision, are Deaf or hard of hearing, or have speech-related disabilities, access to communication tools is essential for daily life and workforce participation. The California Connect Assistive Technology program focuses on ensuring people have access to technology that supports communication independence.

On everyday devices such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops, built-in accessibility features continue to expand. Screen readers, real-time captions, speech-to-text tools, magnification, read-aloud features, and hearing device support allow individuals to send messages, join video calls, read documents, and participate in conversations more independently.

These tools directly address communication barriers. They allow someone to read text aloud, convert speech into written words, caption a live meeting, or translate language in real time. When communication becomes more accessible, education and employment opportunities also become more accessible.

Artificial intelligence strengthens communication access. AI-powered tools can summarize long documents, describe visual content, assist with writing, and help individuals organize information. For many users, these tools function as communication supports that increase clarity and confidence in professional settings.

Unlike specialized equipment of the past, many communication supports are now embedded directly into mainstream devices. However, some advanced tools or applications may require a subscription, a one-time purchase, or insurance approval. Understanding what is already available on a device is an important first step.

Accessing Tools and Understanding Availability

As the workforce becomes more digital, people need tools that help them feel capable and prepared. Accessible technology, AI assistance, and emerging mobility innovations can support growth.

However, not all tools are built into devices, and not all are free. Many accessibility features, such as screen readers, magnification, captions, and basic translation tools, are embedded in smartphones and computers at no additional cost. Other advanced tools, AI applications, or specialized mobility devices may require a subscription, one-time purchase, or insurance approval.

Understanding what is already available on your device is a helpful first step.

How to Find Accessibility Tools on Your Device

On iPhone or iPad:

1. Open Settings

2. Select Accessibility

3. Review features such as VoiceOver, Magnifier, Live Speech, and Hearing Devices

On Android devices:

1. Open Settings

2. Select Accessibility

3. Explore TalkBack, captions, magnification, and other features

To find additional tools:

• Open the Google Play Store

• Search using terms such as “assistive technology,” “speech-to-text,” or “AI tools”

Some apps are free. Others may offer premium versions with expanded features.

If you are unsure which tools best fit your needs, California Connect provides training and guidance through the Customer Learning Library to help individuals explore built-in accessibility features and evaluate additional options.

Accessible technology is not just about innovation. It is about informed access. When people understand what tools exist, how to find them, and what costs may be involved, they are better prepared to build skills that support education, employment, and independence.

These tools are not just conveniences. They are pathways to opportunity.

If you are interested in learning more about accessibility features available on your smartphone, California Connectprovides training on the Customer Learning Library and resources designed to support confident technology use.

Access, Equity, and Inclusion in Everyday Communication

The Personal Experience of Access

I am a big fan of international films. I love stories from different countries, cultures, and languages. But I cannot enjoy most of them without subtitles or closed captions. If I do not understand the language being spoken, I miss the meaning of the story, the humor, the emotions, and the deeper message behind the film. The visuals may be beautiful, but without captions, I am left outside of the experience.

That is what helps me understand why closed captions matter for everyone, not just for people who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing, but for all of us.

Why Captions Support Different Learning and Communication Styles

We live in a world filled with different voices, accents, communication styles, and ways of understanding information. Some people process sound different. Some people do not hear clearly. Some people are learning a new language. Some people struggle with fast speech, background noise, or unclear audio. Some people simply understand better when they can both see and hear information at the same time.

Closed captions help bridge those gaps. They allow people to fully access conversations, stories, education, entertainment, and everyday communication.

Captions are not just a feature on a screen. They are a way for people to feel included, respected, and valued.

Captions as a Necessity, Not a Luxury

For Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities, closed captions are not a luxury. They are a necessity. They provide access to the same information and experiences that people often take for granted. Without captions, many individuals are excluded from movies, social media, classrooms, workplaces, and public spaces.

Many restaurants, stores, airports, hospitals, and government facilities now leave captions turned on by default. This practice recognizes that captions benefit more than one group. It ensures that announcements, news broadcasts, and on-screen information are accessible to everyone in the space.

But captions do not only support Deaf and Hard of Hearing people. They also help:

• People watching videos in noisy environments

• People who cannot turn the volume on

• People with learning differences

• Multilingual individuals

• Anyone trying to understand complex or fast-moving content

At some point in life, most of us will rely on captions in one way or another.

Access Is About Dignity

This is not about a person’s abilities. It is about access, equity, and dignity.

We all want to feel connected to the world around us. We all want to understand what is being said. We all want to enjoy stories, learn new things, laugh, and feel seen. Closed captions make that possible for more people.

Research supports this. A study by Ofcom found that nearly 80 percent of people who use captions are not Deaf or Hard of Hearing. Many rely on captions for clarity, background noise, or language support.

A 2019 Verizon Media and Publicis Media study found that 69 percent of people watch videos with the sound off in public places, and 80 percent are more likely to finish a video when captions are available. These numbers show that captions benefit far more people than we often assume.

When we include captions, we are not just adding text to a screen. We are opening doors. We are creating space for different ways of being, learning, and communicating. We are reinforcing that everyone deserves access to information, culture, and connection.

Closed captions are not extra. They are essential. A world that values access is a world that values people.

If captions are available, turning them on is simple.

How to Turn On Closed Captions

On iPhone or iPad:

1. Open Settings

2. Select Accessibility

3. Tap Subtitles & Captioning

4. Turn on Closed Captions + SDH

On Android devices:

1. Open Settings

2. Select Accessibility

3. Tap Caption Preferences

4. Turn on Captions

If you are interested in learning more about accessibility features available on your smartphone, California Connectprovides training on the Customer Learning Library and resources designed to support confident technology use.

Language should never be a barrier to independence. Today, built-in translation technology on smartphones is making communication more accessible than ever. With companies like T-Mobile and Verizon offering translation tools directly on supported devices, users can communicate across languages without needing separate apps or equipment. Major smartphone manufacturers such as Apple and Google also continue to expand built-in translation features within their operating systems.

These tools allow individuals to translate conversations, text messages, and on-screen content in real time. Because the features are integrated into mainstream devices, users do not need additional hardware or complicated setup. That built-in access supports autonomy and everyday communication.

For the California Connect community, this is more than convenient. It is meaningful access.

For individuals who are blind, have low vision, Deaf, or hard of hearing, integrated translation features can support real-world independence. When translated content is delivered as text, it can be accessed through screen readers (software that reads text aloud) or refreshable braille displays.

A braille user can type a message in English and have it translated into another language for business or travel. They can receive translated responses instantly and read them privately through their connected device. That level of access supports autonomy and reduces reliance on others.

The impact is especially powerful in travel and professional settings. Whether navigating transportation in another country, communicating with hotel staff, or collaborating with international colleagues, built-in translation helps remove uncertainty.

It allows individuals to participate confidently in conversations that might otherwise feel out of reach.

This technology does not replace human interpreters. Instead, it provides an additional tool that expands opportunities. When accessibility is built directly into mainstream devices, it reinforces dignity, capability, and full participation.

Language should never be a barrier to independence. Today, built-in translation technology on smartphones is making communication more accessible than ever. Major carriers such as T-Mobile and Verizon, along with smartphone manufacturers like Apple and Google, continue expanding translation tools on supported devices.

These features allow users to translate conversations, text, and on-screen content without needing separate apps or equipment. Because they are built directly into the device, they support autonomy and everyday communication.

How to Turn On Built-In Translation Features

On iPhone (Apple):

1. Open Settings

2. Scroll down and select Translate (or download the Translate app if not installed)

3. Open the Translate app to choose languages

4. Enable Conversation Mode for real-time dialogue translation

On Android (Google):

1. Open Settings

2. Select System

3. Tap Languages & Input

4. Choose On-device translation (if available)

If you are interested in learning more about accessibility features available on your smartphone, California Connectprovides training on the Customer Learning Library and resources designed to support confident technology use.