The image shows a vibrant, futuristic cityscape with glowing buildings. A person in a wheelchair sits on a reflective surface, facing the city. Swirling clouds and light guide the viewer’s eye to the illuminated city.

What is Accessible 3?

This organization is established exclusively for charitable, educational, and scientific purposes under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code.

Our Yes, And philosophy embraces the potential of technologies, research, and partnerships. We start with what works, recognizing and amplifying the good, while staying grounded in the objective truth about areas that demand improvement. This balanced approach enables us to pursue progress with honesty, optimism, and impact.

We approach accessibility as a systems challenge. At a macro level, we strive to shape a more accessible future through tools, standards, strategies, and tactics for digital environment design and development.

At the micro level, we extend this systems perspective to individual products. We treat usability and accessibility as interconnected dimensions of the same quality, existing along a spectrum of intensity. Addressing this holistic challenge requires thoughtful integration across the entire product ecosystem. Each component—whether software, hardware, or applications—as interdependent in the service of accessible digital environments.

The image shows four individuals in the clouds—one in a wheelchair, two standing with canes, and one seated cross-legged—facing a glowing orb in a fiery hourglass structure. A vast sky with floating shapes, with a staircase leading to the orb.

Research

Effective product design begins with a deep understanding of the ecosystem, as well as the market forces that have shaped—and at times misshapen—it. From there, we conduct research with vulnerability, fostering authentic connections from one disabled person to another. This approach allows us to uncover profound insights into how people with disabilities experience technology, focusing on their goals and unmet needs—areas often overlooked due to a lack of discovery research.

To bridge this gap, we created Telegraph, a tool that enables users with disabilities to safely and effectively document their triumphs and challenges in digital environments. Our research aims to identify these issues comprehensively and examine how they intersect across various ecosystems.

Then, Identifying key areas for further research to deepen our understanding of user needs. With this knowledge, we craft targeted recommendations that advance accessibility and foster inclusivity for all. By synthesizing these insights, we can map common user journeys and personas, equipping product teams with the discovery research needed to mitigate value and usability risks while promoting inclusion.