CES has long been a showcase for cutting-edge technology, but this year marked a meaningful shift with accessibility taking center stage, literally. For the first time, CES featured an Accessibility Stage, placing accessibility right where the action was. Sessions were standing-room only, a great sign that demand was bigger than the space and that next year will need an even bigger stage. What made the stage so powerful was not just the content, but its placement. Situated where all CES attendees passed by, the Accessibility Stage drew in people who might not have come to CES intending to learn about accessibility. Engineers, product managers, investors, and executives stopped, watched, and listened. Exposure matters.
On the show floor, we saw a growing number of technologies with real-world implications for Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, Hard of Hearing, and Late Deafened people. There were a range of products that, while not always marketed specifically to Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, Hard of Hearing, and Late Deafened communities, demonstrated meaningful potential for more inclusive design. For instance, immersive VR pods expanded beyond a purely auditory focus to deliver full sensory experiences, including even scent, opening new possibilities for accessible entertainment and training. Navigation tools such as vibrating canes and neck loops with tactile feedback that can support DeafBlind users in orienting themselves and moving more safely through space. Several robotics platforms allowed users to interact through visual or app-based interfaces rather than relying solely on voice commands, while vibrating sofas and wearable haptic vests made media accessible by providing vibration to convey the sound effects. We also saw captioning glasses and ASL based customer service offerings with varying ranges of usability, as well as AI-powered applications designed to support vocational training for people with disabilities.
“At CES 2026, accessibility was not an afterthought. It was front and center. Deaf Equality joined conversations shaping how emerging technologies can be designed with inclusion from the start.”
Howard A. Rosenblum, Chair & CEO, Deaf Equality
The Accessibility Roundtable was another highlight. What began as a small roundtable in years past grew into a gathering of more than 180 participants, reflecting a broad and growing community of advocates, industry members, developers, policymakers, and researchers, all invested in advancing accessibility across rapidly evolving technologies. The dialogue was robust, open, and forward-looking. Conversations centered on what it means to design access in the era of AI and automation, and how to ensure people with disabilities are not left behind as technology accelerates. The Accessibility Roundtable discussion reinforced that accessibility expertise grounded in lived experience is not optional; it is essential.
Beyond specific products or panels, CES 2026 underscored a broader truth: accessibility is fundamental to innovation. Accessibility should not be treated as a niche feature or a separate category of innovation, but as a baseline for good design that benefits everyone. Many of the most compelling products were those that did not frame accessibility as an add-on, but instead built flexibility, multimodal interaction, and inclusive use into the core experience. Designing for accessibility from the start leads to better products overall, and ensures that innovation does not leave anyone out, but instead expands who gets to participate. At the same time, technology alone is not enough. Accessibility must be designed with people with disabilities, not layered on after the fact.
We left CES feeling energized by what is possible when accessibility is treated as a driver of innovation rather than a limitation. CES recognized this truth by giving accessibility the space, visibility, and seriousness it deserves. The work ahead is to ensure that this momentum continues, not just at conferences, but in design rooms, policy decisions, and product launches year-round.
We are deeply grateful to Rachel Nemeth and the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) for the opportunity to attend as part of the Accessibility Leaders group; Steve Ewell and the CTA Foundation for their leadership in organizing the Accessibility Leaders, Accessibility Roundtable, and Accessibility Stage; and to Fred Moltz and Verizon for supporting the Accessibility Stage and sharing a vision where accessibility is integral to innovation. Their collective commitment helped ensure accessibility was not hidden away, but integral to the CES experience.
