Zoho adds accessibility tools to its Cliq workplace chat app

Zoho has added accessibility features to Cliq, its workplace chat app, as part of the Cliq 7.0 release in 2026. The tools are meant to help employees with visual, hearing, motor or cognitive disabilities use chats, channels and video meetings without workarounds. Zoho says the features meet WCAG 2.0, a widely used set of accessibility standards.

What changed

Zoho groups the changes into four areas: accessible communication, keyboard navigation, inclusive virtual meetings and interaction preferences. In practice, users get these options:

• Sign Language Mode, which keeps a sign language interpreter visible during meetings
• Live captions that show speech as text
• Larger text, better color contrast and adjustable spacing
• A focus indicator that shows where you are when moving by keyboard
• A reading mask that highlights the part of the screen being read

There are smaller touches too. Text can be magnified on hover, links are underlined, and disabled buttons are shown with a strikethrough. Pop-up notifications can have a different duration and contrast.

What WCAG means

WCAG stands for Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. The W3C developed them as technical standards so digital content works for people with a wide range of disabilities. They rest on four ideas: information should be perceivable, navigation operable, content understandable, and the whole thing robust and reliable.

The rules come in three levels: A, AA and AAA. Level AA is the one most often adopted across the industry. Version 2.1 added requirements for mobile and tablets. Version 2.2 is the latest active recommendation. Version 3.0 is still under development. Zoho says the Cliq features meet the 2.0 standards.

Who it affects

Zoho's argument is that everyday tools can shut people out by accident. An employee with a visual or hearing impairment may lose time learning to work around a chat app. That can create communication gaps and delays. The post says organizations should choose accessible tools from the start instead of relying on last-minute fixes.

What to do

Anyone choosing team chat software can use this as a simple checklist. Ask whether the tool offers captions, full keyboard use, screen reader support and readable text settings. Check these before rollout, so no employee has to ask for a special fix later.

What is not clear

The post comes from Zoho's own blog. It does not say which Cliq plans include the features, what they cost or when each one reaches every user. It also does not mention any independent testing of the accessibility claims. Teams that depend on these tools should try them with their own staff.