Apple CEO Tim Cook Talks Accessibility With Three Accessibility Activists - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Apple CEO Tim Cook Talks Accessibility With Three Accessibility Activists

In honor of Global Accessibility Awareness Day, which takes place tomorrow, Apple CEO Tim Cook sat down with three YouTubers to discuss the Accessibility features built into Apple's iOS and Mac devices.

Each of the three YouTubers, who met Cook at Apple's campus for coffee, have shared their conversations with the CEO on their respective YouTube channels. All three, including legally blind filmmaker James Rath, deaf advocate and vlogger Rikki Poynter, and actress Tatiana Lee, who was born with Spina Bifida, talked about the Apple products that they use in their daily lives. The three interviews can be watched below.




During his meeting with Poynter, Cook explained Apple's stance on accessibility and why the company goes to great lengths to make sure its devices are available to everyone.

Apple is founded on giving people power to create things, to do things that they couldn't do without those tools. And we've always viewed accessibility as a human right. And so just like human rights are for everyone, we want our products to be accessible for everyone. And so it's a basic core value of Apple. We don't make products for a particular group of people. We make products for everybody.

We feel very strongly that everyone deserves an equal opportunity and equal access. So we don't look at this thing from a return on investment point of view -- I've been asked that before. The answer is no, I've never looked at that. We don't care about that.

In addition to Cook's meetings, Apple also recently published a series of "Designed for" accessibility videos, highlighting the different ways Apple's Accessibility features are used to make Apple devices available to everyone, and there's currently an Accessibility feature in the App Store promoting Accessibility apps.

Since October, Apple has had a detailed Accessibility website that demonstrates and promotes the extensive Accessibility options built into Apple products.

Popular Stories

iphone duo standby

Apple Retail Staff Told to Warn Against iPhone Duo Walk-In Purchases

Saturday October 17, 2026 2:30 pm PDT by
Some Apple retail employees have been told to warn customers against visiting to purchase an iPhone Duo without a pre-order on Friday, October 23. Apple Store employees told MacRumors that they have been advised that there will likely be no iPhone Duo stock available for walk-in purchases on launch day. Staff have been instructed to discourage customers without pre-orders from coming in...
M5 MacBook Pro

RIP, MacBook Ultra

Monday October 19, 2026 9:37 am PDT by
Apple today sent out invites for an experience in Los Angeles on Wednesday, October 28, and the "Pro and tell" tagline on the invitation likely means that the rumored MacBook models with touch-enabled OLED displays will stick with MacBook Pro branding instead of the once-rumored "MacBook Ultra" name. The long-rumored "iPhone Ultra" ended up being named iPhone Duo, so speculation that Apple...
iphone duo feature

Mark Gurman: Apple Made 'Major Mistake' With iPhone Duo Pre-Orders

Sunday October 18, 2026 7:33 am PDT by
Despite knowing that the iPhone Duo would face "severe supply constraints" due to manufacturing challenges, Apple chose to begin iPhone Duo pre-orders on Friday instead of waiting until it had more inventory ready, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In his Power On newsletter today, he called this decision a "major mistake." "Let me cut to the chase: Apple made a major mistake here," he...

Top Rated Comments

123 months ago
Go to http://www.aapd.com
(American Association of People with Disabilities)
Click on employment, which takes you to : http://jobs.aapd.com/jobs
Search for Apple jobs in CA
Find no jobs listed by Apple

Now you understand Apple does not really give a sh1z about the disabled, and just uses this garbage as part of their faux "we care" emotional marketing strategy. Period.
Really? Why don't you inform your "opinion" by observing or working with people who actually need and use accessibility features in tech. Spend a day or two at Accessing Higher Ground and meet people who use the features. Work with students through an office of disability services for a day or two. Then come back and share an informed opinion. Apple's tech is pretty darn good at allowing people to access content and get on with their lives. Is it perfect? No, but few things are. Apple has been a longtime provider of accessible tech and, I would guess, has done more to promote accessibility in technology than...say...you.

Your posting of the aapd job board goes to show how desperate you are to criticizee. Why would apple post there? My place of employment has many people with the sole responsibility of providing accommodations and ensuring web, etc. accessibility. There are many, many others who have the responsibility as part of our normal job because we create content. You won't find any of our jobs posted there either. So, the logical conclusion is that we don't care about accessibility? What?
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
christarp Avatar
123 months ago
Jeez, Everyone here is so mad about these videos for some reason. It's a few feel good videos with real people with real disabilities and how they've had things improve for them with Apple. Can you not just be happy about something for once in your life? This is one of those feel good moments you can just sit back and watch.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
-BigMac- Avatar
123 months ago
"Everyone should have equal access"

Proceeds to increase every products base price for the last 5 years.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
123 months ago
Sorry Tim, I'm not buying the Kool-Aid you're selling.

"we don't look at ROI", "we want to make Apple products accessible to everyone".

How about making it cheaper so everyone can afford it would be a good start!
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
amegicfox Avatar
123 months ago
when does this man work ? he is a wanna be politician and really bad at it too

Tim resign from Apple so can a young smart person can make Apple great again
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
developer13245 Avatar
123 months ago
Really? Why don't you inform your "opinion" by observing or working with people who actually need and use accessibility features in tech. Spend a day or two at Accessing Higher Ground and meet people who use the features. Work with students through an office of disability services for a day or two. Then come back and share an informed opinion. Apple's tech is pretty darn good at allowing people to access content and get on with their lives. Is it perfect? No, but few things are. Apple has been a longtime provider of accessible tech and, I would guess, has done more to promote accessibility in technology than...say...you.

Your posting of the aapd job board goes to show how desperate you are to criticizee. Why would apple post there? My place of employment has many people with the sole responsibility of providing accommodations and ensuring web, etc. accessibility. There are many, many others who have the responsibility as part of our normal job because we create content. You won't find any of our jobs posted there either. So, the logical conclusion is that we don't care about accessibility? What?
see:

http://www.aapd.com/disability-equality-index/

Apple is nowhere on the list, which is unacceptable for a company of their 'stature' that prattles on about how socially conscious they claim to be.

Sure, a lot of companies are not on the list, but until Apple IS on the list, they have no credibility to publish this type of emotional advertising.

Essentially, they can sell to the disabled, but do not support them as an employer.

Apple's performance in the area of disability support does not match their message.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Latest Stories
Apple's October 28 'Pro and Tell' Launch: What's Coming
Apple's October 28 'Pro and Tell' Launch: What's Coming
39 minutes ago
Apple Limiting U.S. iPhone Duo Orders to Two Per Customer
Apple Limiting U.S. iPhone Duo Orders to Two Per Customer
48 minutes ago
Apple Buys AI Audio Editing App Samplab
Apple Buys AI Audio Editing App Samplab
2 hours ago
EFF's Privacy Badger Anti-Tracking Extension Expands to Safari
EFF's Privacy Badger Anti-Tracking Extension Expands to Safari
3 hours ago
HomePod 27.2 Adds Sound Glow to Existing HomePod Models
HomePod 27.2 Adds Sound Glow to Existing HomePod Models
4 hours ago
Apple Starts Moving Up iPhone Duo Delivery Dates
Apple Starts Moving Up iPhone Duo Delivery Dates
5 hours ago
tvOS 27.2 RC Lays Groundwork for HomePod Surround Sound
tvOS 27.2 RC Lays Groundwork for HomePod Surround Sound
5 hours ago
Apple Says iPhone Duo Not Available on Walk-In Basis in Two Countries
Apple Says iPhone Duo Not Available on Walk-In Basis in Two Countries
6 hours ago
Apple Seeds macOS Golden Gate 27.2 Release Candidate to Developers
Apple Seeds macOS Golden Gate 27.2 Release Candidate to Developers
7 hours ago
Apple Releases iOS 27.2 Release Candidate
Apple Releases iOS 27.2 Release Candidate
7 hours ago
Apple Seeds watchOS 27.2, tvOS 27.2 and visionOS 27.2 Release Candidates
Apple Seeds watchOS 27.2, tvOS 27.2 and visionOS 27.2 Release Candidates
7 hours ago
Samsung Slashes Prices on Frame TVs With Biggest Savings Yet for 2026 Models
Samsung Slashes Prices on Frame TVs With Biggest Savings Yet for 2026 Models
7 hours ago
RIP, MacBook Ultra
RIP, MacBook Ultra
8 hours ago
Apple Announcing New Products Next Week: 'Pro and Tell'
Apple Announcing New Products Next Week: 'Pro and Tell'
8 hours ago
GM Says Apple Wallet Car Keys Coming to These Vehicles
GM Says Apple Wallet Car Keys Coming to These Vehicles
11 hours ago
Amazon Offers $900 Off 2026 16-Inch MacBook Pro With M5 Max Chip
Amazon Offers $900 Off 2026 16-Inch MacBook Pro With M5 Max Chip
11 hours ago
Amazon Discounts New Mac Mini by Up to $149, Mac Studio by $200
Amazon Discounts New Mac Mini by Up to $149, Mac Studio by $200
1 day ago
Apple Expected to Release New Products on Next Four Fridays
Apple Expected to Release New Products on Next Four Fridays
1 day ago
Apple Reveals iPhone Duo's Battery Capacity
Apple Reveals iPhone Duo's Battery Capacity
1 day ago
Apple Planning 'HomeView Max' With 9-Inch, 360-Degree Screen
Apple Planning 'HomeView Max' With 9-Inch, 360-Degree Screen
1 day ago
Mark Gurman: Apple Made 'Major Mistake' With iPhone Duo Pre-Orders
Mark Gurman: Apple Made 'Major Mistake' With iPhone Duo Pre-Orders
1 day ago
Apple Retail Staff Told to Warn Against iPhone Duo Walk-In Purchases
Apple Retail Staff Told to Warn Against iPhone Duo Walk-In Purchases
2 days ago
Apple Hires Former Meta Lawyer to Oversee Global Litigation
Apple Hires Former Meta Lawyer to Oversee Global Litigation
2 days ago
Top Stories: Apple HomeView, New Apple TV and HomePod mini, and Sold-Out iPhone Duo
Top Stories: Apple HomeView, New Apple TV and HomePod mini, and Sold-Out iPhone Duo
3 days ago
Verizon Will Charge $10 a Month for iPhone Handoff
Verizon Will Charge $10 a Month for iPhone Handoff
3 days ago
Apple Calls iPhone Duo Demand 'Extraordinary' After Orders Slip to 2027
Apple Calls iPhone Duo Demand 'Extraordinary' After Orders Slip to 2027
3 days ago
New App Store Rules Target AI Deepfakes and Nudify Apps
New App Store Rules Target AI Deepfakes and Nudify Apps
3 days ago
Didn't Pre-Order Apple's HomeView? Here's How Long the Wait is Now
Didn't Pre-Order Apple's HomeView? Here's How Long the Wait is Now
3 days ago
Apple's $79 iPhone Duo Case Sticks On With Adhesive
Apple's $79 iPhone Duo Case Sticks On With Adhesive
3 days ago
Apple TV 4K and HomePod Mini Price Increases 'Much More Striking' Than New Features
Apple TV 4K and HomePod Mini Price Increases 'Much More Striking' Than New Features
3 days ago