accessiBe to release accessFind, the world’s first search engine designed for those with disabilities

Leading internet accessibility company accessiBe announces the reveal of the first-ever search engine that caters to users with disabilities, delivering the community an index of accessible websites. In its first round of funding earlier this year, accessiBe received $28 million and released its public roadmap detailing plans to launch free enterprise-grade tools and an accessibility platform made specifically for engineering teams in addition to accessFind.

According to the company, only 2% of websites are currently accessible, making it difficult for the 1.5 billion people globally with disabilities to find websites that allow them to fully take advantage of the internet’s potential.

“For too many people, using popular search engines is a frustrating and fruitless experience. With the understanding of this web accessibility gap, the decision to put our resources into accessFind was an easy one,” said CEO of accessiBe, Shir Ekerling. “With accessFind, internet users with disabilities finally have a search engine that provides them with results of readily accessible websites.”

accesiBe is working side by side with disability-focused nonprofits including United Spinal Association, Columbia Lighthouse For The Blind (CLB), The Viscardi Center, The IMAGE Center of Maryland, Earle Baum Center of the Blind, Determined2Heal, Senspoint, and more to launch the search engine. accessFind is the first of its kind created for this community.

“I know firsthand the challenges that people with disabilities must navigate when it comes to internet accessibility. That’s what we call ‘the web accessibility gap,’ and this initiative will go a long way in helping to bridge that gap,” said Chief Vision Officer of accessiBe, Michael Hingson. “Our intention in building accessFind is to be the new gateway to an inclusive web, displaying only accessible websites, and empowering and connecting the community with businesses, services, and knowledge sources with a goal of an accessible internet by 2025.”

At its launch, accessFind will have at least 120,000 websites that are accessible for users. Any accessible website will be welcome to join accessFind. Whether your website wants to join the index of sites or you would like to become a founding member, visit accessfind.com for more information.

An official launch date has yet to be announced but is expected soon. By using automation rather than labor, the notion of a fully accessible internet is, for the first time ever, practical, attainable reality and not just a distant dream.

Founded in 2018 by Dekel Skoop, Gal Vizel, and Shir Ekerling, the Tel Aviv, Israel-based accessiBe is an AI-Powered web accessibility and compliance solution that automatically complies with worldwide standards and legislation.