CTA Foundation News

Austin Tang — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 17:05:17 +0000

By Steve Ewell ● Feb 19, 2025

Smart Brevity^® count: 2 mins…567 words

The CTA Foundation celebrated an incredible CES^® 2025, highlighting accessibility innovation and collaboration. From assistive devices to smart home solutions, CES showcased cutting-edge technologies empowering people of all abilities and reinforced the Foundation’s commitment to a more inclusive future.

Keep reading to learn about some exciting announcements we have to share:

Meet the CES 2025 Innovation Challenge Winners
Inside the CTA Foundation Accessibility Roundtable: Key Takeaways from CES
Startup Innovation Takes Center Stage in Eureka Park Pitch CompetitionStartup Innovation Takes Center Stage in Eureka Park Pitch Competition
And More!

As always, thanks for your support.

1. Innovation Challenge Highlighted Digital Healthcare Solutions

The CTA Foundation kicked off CES 2025 with the Innovation Challenge, focusing on improving digital healthcare access for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

Finalists Eyedaptic, MapHabit, ONSCREEN, Inc., and VIF showcased their solutions on stage, with ONSCREEN, Inc. taking the top prize for its technology designed to empower individuals with IDD in managing their healthcare.

2. Bringing Leaders Together: Accessibility Roundtable and Reception

More than 120 attendees, including disability advocates, industry leaders, and innovators, gathered for the Accessibility Roundtable to discuss assistive devices, inclusive design, and accessible technology solutions.

Organized in collaboration with CTA’s Government Affairs, Technology & Standards teams, and the new Accessibility and AgeTech Working Group, the discussion set the tone for the week.
Later, the Accessibility & AgeTech Reception provided a valuable networking opportunity for advocates and industry professionals to continue conversations and explore collaborative solutions.

3. Startups Took Center Stage in the Eureka Park Pitch Competition

Nine startup finalists took the stage for the CTA Foundation Pitch Competition, presenting innovative AI-powered solutions that enhance health and accessibility.

MakeSense Technology won the Grand Prize for “The Vector,” an AI-powered navigation device for individuals with low vision.
Sign-Speak and Voinosis were recognized as runner-up and Audience Choice winners for their groundbreaking technologies.

4. Media and Funders Tours Showcased Accessibility Innovation

The CTA Foundation brought accessibility innovation to the spotlight at CES 2025 with two exclusive tours:

Accessibility Media Tour: Journalists met the winners of the Eureka Park Accessibility Contest — Blueberry Technology Inc., Lotus, MakeSense Technology, Sign-Speak, and Soliddd Corp.These companies showcased groundbreaking tech, ranging from real-time sign language translation to haptic navigation devices. The tour concluded with a final stop at Amazon’s CES exhibit, where attendees explored the company’s latest accessibility initiatives.
Funders Tour: Sponsors and supporters got a firsthand look at cutting-edge assistive technologies. This tour highlighted the impact of industry collaboration and investment in assistive tech, reinforcing the importance of continued support in driving innovation and inclusion.

5. #GivingTechDay Doubles Donations from Last Year!

Thank you to the individuals that shared #TechGives stories, and the 34 individuals who generated $15,200 in funding to turn #GivingTuesday into #GivingTechday for the CTA Foundation. We are humbled by your support and generosity and look forward to turning your charitable gift into accessibility for all ages in 2025!

6. Thank You to our 2024 Industry Partners

CTA Foundation would like to instead a warm thank you to those in the consumer technology industry who have directly supported our mission last year and help put accessibility at the forefront of CES.

Go deeper: Interested in joining our partners, participating in our Industry Partner Council, and championing accessibility and aging tech? Contact nzundel@ctafoundation.tech to learn more.

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