Apple, known for its sleek designs and intuitive interfaces, is rolling out a new feature called Accessibility Reader today, and it’s poised to make a real difference for people with disabilities like dyslexia and low vision. This isn’t just another software update—it’s a bold step toward making technology more inclusive, and it’s got a lot of folks, from educators to accessibility advocates, sitting up and taking notice.

Announced ahead of the annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June, Accessibility Reader is part of a broader suite of accessibility tools Apple is bringing to its ecosystem. The feature will let users customize text—think font, color, spacing, and even text-to-speech options—across any app on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and the futuristic Apple Vision Pro. But here’s the kicker: it doesn’t stop at digital screens. Apple’s integrating this tech into its Magnifier app, which means users can point their device at a physical object—like a restaurant menu, a book, or even a product label—and tweak the text to make it easier to read. This is real-world accessibility, and it’s a game-changer.

Imagine you’re someone with dyslexia, where letters might jumble or words blur into a confusing mess. Or maybe you have low vision, and small, tightly spaced text is nearly impossible to decipher. For millions of people, these challenges make everyday tasks—like reading a book or navigating a new app—frustrating, if not outright inaccessible. That’s where Accessibility Reader comes in.

The feature, set to launch later this year with iOS 19, iPadOS 19, macOS 16, and visionOS 3, lets you overhaul how text looks and sounds. Want a larger font? Done. Prefer a high-contrast color scheme, like yellow text on a black background? You got it. Need the text read aloud in a clear, natural voice? Accessibility Reader can do that too, thanks to Apple’s Spoken Content integration. And because it works system-wide, you can apply these changes to everything from your favorite e-book app to a random webpage in Safari.

What sets this apart from existing accessibility tools is its seamless integration with Apple’s Magnifier app. Magnifier, already a staple for iPhone and iPad users, uses the device’s camera to zoom in on physical objects, acting like a digital magnifying glass. With Accessibility Reader baked in, Magnifier can now recognize text in the real world—say, on a diner menu or a museum placard—and let you customize it on the spot. You can enlarge the font, change the background color, or have the text read aloud, all without needing a separate device or app. It’s like having a personal accessibility assistant in your pocket.

Apple’s not stopping at mobile devices, either. For the first time, Magnifier is coming to the Mac, allowing users to leverage their Mac’s camera, an iPhone via Continuity Camera, or even a USB webcam to zoom in on their surroundings. Picture a student in a lecture hall using their MacBook to zoom in on a whiteboard, with Accessibility Reader making the handwritten notes not just bigger but also clearer and easier to read by adjusting the text’s appearance. It’s practical, intuitive, and quintessentially Apple.

Apple’s been a leader in accessibility for years—think VoiceOver, the industry-standard screen reader, or Live Captions for real-time audio transcription. But Accessibility Reader takes things to a new level by addressing a core challenge: reading itself. “At Apple, accessibility is part of our DNA,” said CEO Tim Cook in a press release. “Making technology for everyone is a priority for all of us.” And with 40 years of accessibility innovation under its belt (Apple’s disability office opened in 1985), the company’s walking the talk.

For someone with dyslexia, customizable text can reduce cognitive strain. Fonts like OpenDyslexic, which emphasizes letter shapes to prevent confusion, or simple adjustments like wider spacing, can make reading less daunting. For low-vision users, high-contrast colors and larger text can mean the difference between squinting in frustration and reading comfortably. And the real-world application? That’s huge. Imagine a low-vision senior at a grocery store, pointing their iPhone at a soup can to read the ingredients in a font and color they can actually see. Or a dyslexic student using their iPad to tweak the text on a textbook, making study sessions less overwhelming.

Accessibility Reader isn’t the only trick Apple’s got up its sleeve. The company’s also rolling out Accessibility Nutrition Labels on the App Store, which will detail the accessibility features of apps and games—think of it like a nutritional label, but for inclusivity. Developers will need to specify things like whether their app supports VoiceOver or dynamic text sizing, making it easier for users to find software that meets their needs.

Then there’s Braille Access, a new mode that lets users take notes and perform calculations in braille directly on their Apple devices. It’s designed to mimic the experience of dedicated braille note-takers, complete with support for Nemeth code (used for math) and Braille Ready Format (BRF) files. Plus, it integrates with Live Captions, so braille users can follow real-time conversations on their displays. This is a big win for the blind and low-vision community, especially since Apple devices already support over 70 braille displays on iOS and 100 on macOS.

Apple’s also enhancing Live Listen and Live Captions on Apple Watch, letting users with hearing impairments view real-time transcripts of what their iPhone’s microphone picks up. And for Apple Vision Pro users, the company is expanding vision accessibility with advanced zoom features and a new API for apps like Be My Eyes, which connects blind users with sighted volunteers for visual assistance.

To get a sense of how these features might play out, consider someone like Sarah, a 30-year-old graphic designer with dyslexia. Sarah’s always loved her iPhone for its clean interface, but reading long emails or articles can be a slog. With Accessibility Reader, she can switch to a dyslexia-friendly font and have the text read aloud while following along, cutting down on the mental fatigue. At a coffee shop, she points her phone at the chalkboard menu, adjusts the text to a bold, high-contrast style, and orders her latte without needing to ask for help.

Or take Michael, a 65-year-old retiree with low vision due to macular degeneration. He’s been using Magnifier on his iPad to read pill bottles, but small print still trips him up. Now, with Accessibility Reader, he can point his iPad at the bottle, bump up the font size, and change the background to a soothing gray that reduces glare. For Michael, it’s not just about convenience—it’s about independence.

Apple’s push comes at a time when accessibility is gaining traction as a fundamental right. The Americans with Disabilities Act turned 35 in 2025, and global initiatives like the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals emphasize inclusive technology. But there’s still a gap—many apps and devices remain inaccessible, and specialized tools like braille displays or dyslexia-friendly software can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars.

Apple’s approach—building accessibility into its core products—lowers those barriers. You don’t need to buy a separate device or subscribe to a pricey service. If you’ve got an iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Vision Pro, these tools are yours, free with the next software update. And with features like Magnifier now on Mac, Apple’s ensuring that accessibility spans its entire ecosystem, from pocket-sized phones to high-powered laptops.

As we head toward WWDC in June, all eyes will be on how Apple fleshes out these features. Will Accessibility Reader support niche fonts like Comic Sans, which some dyslexic users swear by? How will Magnifier on Mac handle complex environments, like a crowded classroom? And will developers embrace the new Accessibility Nutrition Labels, or will they see them as just another hoop to jump through?

For now, Apple’s made one thing clear: accessibility isn’t an afterthought—it’s a priority. By blending cutting-edge tech like machine learning and LiDAR with user-centric design, the company’s not just helping people read better; it’s helping them live better. Whether you’re a student with dyslexia, a senior with low vision, or just someone who wants tech that works for everyone, Accessibility Reader is a reminder that innovation doesn’t have to leave anyone behind.

So, the next time you’re struggling to read a tiny menu or squinting at a webpage, remember: Apple’s got your back. And with Accessibility Reader, the world’s about to get a whole lot easier to read—both on your screen and off it.