Stephen Ewell, CTA Foundation Honored with 2026 FCC Chairman’s Award for Accessibility Innovation
Accessibility Stage to Return at CES 2027, Showcasing Technology Designed to Improve Inclusion for People with Disabilities
LAPost/Arlington, VA (October 9, 2026) — By: Richard Ren/LAPost
Stephen Ewell, executive director of the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) Foundation, has received the 2026 Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman’s Award for Advancement in Accessibility, recognizing efforts to make technology more accessible and inclusive for people with disabilities.
Stephen Ewell
The CTA Foundation received the award alongside Verizon for jointly hosting the inaugural Accessibility Stage at CES 2026, the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The stage brought together industry experts and other voices through panel discussions and conversations examining how emerging technologies can remove barriers, improve accessibility and create more inclusive experiences.
Ewell accepted the award alongside Fred Moltz, Verizon’s chief accessibility officer, at an FCC event on October 8.
The FCC Chairman’s Awards for Advancement in Accessibility recognize individuals, products, services, standards and other innovations that improve the experience of people with disabilities when using telecommunications and technology. The recognition highlights the growing role of accessible technology in expanding opportunities for participation in everyday life.
“Congratulations to our CTA Foundation and its distinguished leader, Steve Ewell, on this remarkable recognition,” said Kinsey Fabrizio, president and CEO of CTA.
Fabrizio noted that CTA member companies are developing technologies intended to improve daily life for people with disabilities, citing innovations ranging from closed captioning to new applications for smart glasses. The Accessibility Stage, she said, provides a platform to showcase these solutions and place accessibility at the center of conversations about technological advancement.
Ewell said the inaugural stage demonstrated that accessibility technology offers benefits extending beyond individual users, highlighting its commercial, technological and societal value.
“The Accessibility Stage amplified the voices of people with disabilities while demonstrating the commercial, technological and societal value of accessibility tech,” Ewell said. “We are honored to receive this prestigious FCC award and excited to bring the Accessibility Stage back at CES 2027.”
Accessibility Stage to Return at CES 2027
Following its debut at CES 2026, the Accessibility Stage will return January 6–9, 2027, in Las Vegas, with expanded interactive programming focused on emerging accessibility technologies and their potential impact.
The initiative reflects broader efforts across the consumer technology industry to incorporate accessibility into product development and innovation, helping people with disabilities engage more fully with digital services, communication tools and everyday technologies.
CES 2027 will bring together technology companies, innovators and industry leaders to explore developments across the technology sector. Organizers say the returning Accessibility Stage will provide another opportunity to highlight solutions designed to address accessibility challenges and demonstrate how inclusive design can benefit a wider range of users.
More information about the Accessibility Stage and CES 2027 registration is available at CES.tech.
About the CTA Foundation
The CTA Foundation is a national 501(c)(3) public foundation affiliated with the Consumer Technology Association. Its mission is to connect older adults and people with disabilities with technologies that enhance their lives.
Since awarding its first grants in 2012, the foundation has supported programs designed to promote greater independence, purpose and social connection for people who can benefit from accessible technology.
More information is available at CTAFoundation.tech.
About CES
CES is an annual global technology event owned and produced by the Consumer Technology Association. It brings together leading brands, startups, technology innovators and industry professionals to showcase developments and explore business opportunities across the technology sector.
CES 2027 will take place January 6–9, 2027, in Las Vegas. More information is available at CES.tech.
