Google’s Accessibility Discovery Centre

Google’s Accessibility Discovery Centre

About Google

Google LLC is an American multinational corporation and technology company focusing on online advertising, search engine technology, cloud computing, computer software, quantum computing, e-commerce, consumer electronics, and artificial intelligence.

The project

Google created The Accessibility Discovery Centre (ADC): a dedicated centre to drive research and innovation in accessible technology. The ADC is in Google’s King’s Cross offices and is open to anyone who wants to come.

The ADC was started by Google UK’s Disability Alliance and has become a highly impactful asset in shaping product design and fostering cross-business and policy collaborations to drive inclusive innovation.

The discovery centre features an interactive display of assistive technology and showcases products which are driving accessible innovation from many brands beyond Google. A popular demo area is the video gaming arcade developed with the Manchester charity Everybody Can that demonstrates how assistive technology can be the bridge between a person and what they want to do. All demos at the ADC demonstrate the impact of assistive technology on the lives of people with disabilities.

The ADC has hosted numerous workshops in support of others in the accessibility space – from global companies like Unilever and SONY, to policymaker workshops and charity report launches.

The result

In its first year of operation, the ADC hosted over 2,000 external visitors including MPs, regulators, universities, charities, global companies, and hundreds of local school children. Over 100 companies have visited the ADC, and many have been through multiple times including BT and EE who have been through over five times and DLA Piper who have visited three times.

Google have helped an organisation in India create their own Accessibility Centre, based on the ADC. Several companies and charities who have “Empathy labs” have made changes in how they present their stories and opportunities after visiting the ADC. Two companies have made commitments to improving the accessibility of their products after visiting the centre.

Going forward

The ADC has been so successful that other Google employee groups across the EU and MENA are building their own versions. New ADCs are due to open in Dublin, Zurich, Munich, Milan, and Dubai within the next year.

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