Apple invites developers to app accessibility online session ahead of WWDC

Apple on Monday sent invitations asking certain developers to take part in an upcoming online meeting that will discuss the company's app accessibility features, with the virtual event potentially being a proving ground for a new digital presentation platform expected to debut at WWDC in June.

Shared by Steve Troughton-Smith in a tweet, the invitation appears to be an email from Apple's Developer team.

"At Apple, we believe that technology is most powerful when it empowers everyone. Join us for an online event to learn how you can take advantage of the award-winning accessibility features that come standard on Apple devices," the letter reads.

The session will be interactive, as Apple notes developers are able to ask questions of presenters both during and after the presentation. App makers can also sign up for individual consultations, presumably with Apple software engineers, should they so choose.

How long the session will run is unknown, but Apple is not providing invitees much advance notice. The meeting is set to take place this week on Thursday, April 23. Developers must register online to take part in the event.

Thursday's accessibility-focused web session comes just over two months before Apple is scheduled to hold its first all-digital Worldwide Developers Conference in June. Apple, like many other companies and event planners, is moving its annual conference online as a result of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Described as a completely online experience, this year's WWDC is open to all comers and will include the usual keynote and in-depth engineering sessions that will detail new platform features set to debut this fall. Software engineers will also be on hand to interface with developers. How the company intends to broadcast this year's WWDC proceedings is unknown, though this week's accessibility seminar could prove to be a small-scale test of the platform.