CTA Foundation and Verizon Won Accessibility Award
The organizations were honored by the FCC for hosting a dedicated accessibility stage to support individuals with disabilities.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Special Needs
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The CTA Foundation and Verizon received an FCC Chairman's Award for Advancement in Accessibility, recognizing their work at CES 2026. This award honors groups for developing technologies and experiences that improve daily life for people with disabilities.
Why it matters
The recognition highlights the growing integration of accessibility features into consumer technology used in homes and family life. By prioritizing inclusive design, such efforts ensure that new tech tools remain usable for all household members regardless of ability.
The FCC presented the Chairman's Award for Advancement in Accessibility to the CTA Foundation and Verizon on October 8, 2026. This honor follows their collaboration on the first-ever accessibility stage, which served as a forum for expert-led discussions on assistive technology.
The players
CTA Foundation
A charitable arm of the Consumer Technology Association that funds initiatives to improve the lives of seniors and people with disabilities.
Verizon
A major telecommunications provider that invests in connectivity solutions and assistive technologies for household use.
Steve Ewell
A leader in the technology sector who accepted the FCC accessibility award on behalf of the foundation.
Fred Moltz
A representative involved in the advocacy for inclusive technology development who accepted the award.
The details
The accessibility stage featured panels and guided conversations to bridge the gap between emerging consumer electronics and the needs of people with disabilities. By focusing on practical tech solutions, the initiative aims to make devices more intuitive and inclusive for the average household. The organizations will continue this effort by hosting a return of the stage at the next major industry event.
Timeline
2012: The CTA Foundation awarded its first grants.
October 8, 2026: The FCC award ceremony occurred.
January 6-9, 2027: The Accessibility Stage is scheduled for CES 2027.
The Home Front
This award marks a modern industry update to the inclusive accessibility standards originally codified under the Communications Act of 1934. It reflects a broader trend of integrating inclusive design into the standard product roadmap for home electronics.
Families interested in the latest assistive technology should keep an eye on upcoming industry reports from the 2027 event for new product announcements. Checking manufacturer accessibility features before purchasing home electronics can help ensure devices remain usable for all residents.
The takeaway
Advancements in consumer technology are increasingly focused on inclusive design that supports diverse household needs. Keep these developments in mind when upgrading your home tech, and consult official event portals to track when new accessible features hit the market.
What happens next
The Accessibility Stage will return at CES 2027 from January 6 to 9.
Further reading
For more on how new tech can support your family's unique requirements, visit our Special Needs section.
More information
To see the upcoming schedule or learn more about industry accessibility initiatives, visit the CES event registration and information portal.
Source note: This article includes information reported by EXHIBITOR Online.
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