Disability Bandwidth

Disability Bandwidth: a show where we talk with disability leaders each week about career, life, and technology.

Welcome to Disability Bandwidth! We’re excited to share all the insightful chats we were so fortunate to have this season with disability leaders. In the premiere episode, you’ll hear from us – Nikki and Sam – and find out a bit about who we are and what we’re looking forward to with the launch of this podcast series. References Sam Proulx (https://www.linkedin.com/in/samuel-proulx-06107332/)...

Episode 2 of Disability Bandwidth features guest Sheri Byrne-Haber,  a prominent global subject matter expert in the fields of disability and accessibility. Nikki, Sam, and Sheri discuss her career path, how to push for accessible tool procurement in your workplace, and reflections on parenting, STEM, and more. Currently the Senior Staff Architect of Accessibility for VMware, Sheri is best kno...

Ean Price is the CEO of ICAN Resources, focused on solving challenges related to accessible travel, design, and technology. Due to his complex needs, he considers himself “pretty high maintenance” – but that means if he can physically explore the world, anyone can with the right resources. Ean joins Sam and Nikki on the podcast for wide-ranging discussions on work, exploration, and innovation. ...

Natalie has always wanted to save the world. With over twenty years of web accessibility experience, they realized early on that there was way more internet than there was accessibility. This has led Natalie from non-profit organizing to the government sector, to her current role as Senior Accessibility Lead at Spotify, all with the goal of improving access to information for everyone.  In thi...

The pros and cons of Accessibility Offices within companies. Transferrable insights from gaming #a11y.  Mythbusting the perceived challenges of ensuring meaningful accessibility. Chatting with Hector Osborne Rodriguez, the front-end developing manager for Accenture, Nikki, and Sam explore his accessibility career path, and how being curious and vocal are keys to getting started in the field. R...

Elsa Sjunneson joins Nikki and Sam on Episode 6 of Disability Bandwidth! Historian, advocate, writer, and self-described deafblind hurricane, Elsa discusses her work and perspectives on ableism, eugenics, representation, and more. References Bionic Eye Obsolete  (https://spectrum.ieee.org/bionic-eye-obsolete) The Helen Keller Exorcism - Radiolab (https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/radiolab...

Currently the EMEA Lead for Accessibility and Disability Inclusion at Google, Christopher Patnoe has also worked at Apple and Sony Ericsson helping to design products that are now household names. Christopher Patnoe chats with hosts Nikki and Sam about the future of XR accessibility, and the need to emphasize disability in workplace DEI practices. References Christopher on LinkedIn (https://w...

Debra Ruh is the CEO of Ruh Global IMPACT and the Executive Chair of Billion Strong. Joining for Episode 8, Debra explores her personal relationships to disability, thoughts on workplace representation, and more. References Ruh Global Impact (https://www.ruhglobal.com/) Billion Strong (https://www.billion-strong.org/) Definition of disability in the ADA (https://adata.org/faq/what-definitio...

Stephen Anfield chats with hosts Nikki and Sam about his transition off social media and into a new career. Stephen is currently shifting into social work, using his 10+ years in tech to create innovative solutions that solve societal problems. References City Year (https://www.cityyear.org/) Stephen Anfield on Twitter (https://twitter.com/stephenanfield) https://www.stephenanfield.com/ Re...

Elise Roy is a Principal Architect at Salesforce and has spent her career involved in accessibility advocacy. In Episode 10, Elise talks about her motivations to change career paths and how to incorporate design thinking into product development to include the voices and needs of disabled users. References Elise Roy, Ted Talk (https://www.ted.com/talks/elise_roy_when_we_design_for_disability_...

Episode 11 features our final guest for Season One: Jennison Ascuncion. Co-founder of Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) and Head of Accessibility Engineering Evangelism at LinkedIn, Jennison, he talks to Nikki and Sam about how GAAD came to be, navigating the accessibility myths that continue to haunt product design, hiring people with disabilities, and more. References Global Accessi...

So many wonderful guests joined Sam and Nikki for the first season of Disability Bandwidth! To wrap things up, the duo reflect on the themes that thread through each conversation had: inclusive design, accessibility, and leadership. Thank you to all of the Season One guests of Disability Bandwidth for sharing your stories, thoughts, and expertise. References Global Accessibility Awareness Da...

Join hosts Sam Proulx and Nikki Nolan as they kick off Season 2 of Disability Bandwidth! In this first episode, they discuss what's in store for the season and share their enthusiasm for the upcoming topics and guests. As a fun bonus, they also experiment with AI and discover that it thinks the podcast is about disabled pirates! Don't miss this entertaining episode to start off the new season. ...

Do you care and want to change things?  Join us for an insightful conversation with Angie Rajani, CPACC, an inclusive design strategist with expertise in digital accessibility. In this episode, we delve into the nuances of working in government versus corporate settings, as well as the inspiration behind Angie's work. We also tackle important questions, such as whether accessibility should be i...

This week's episode of Disability Bandwidth features a conversation between Nikki Nolan, Sam Proulx, and Billy Price, the Co-Founder of Billy Footwear. Billy Footwear is a shoe brand that uses universal design principles to create footwear that is accessible to people with and without disabilities. Billy himself faced mobility challenges when he became paralyzed from the chest down, which made ...

In the fourth episode of season two of Disability Bandwidth, we had an insightful conversation with Grace Ogden-Parker, an enthusiastic advocate for both the Autistic and Disability communities who proudly identifies as a member of both groups. During our discussion, we explored her ongoing efforts to destigmatize autism and disability and her strategies for combating ableism in its various for...

On this week's episode of Disability Bandwidth, we have a lively and engaging conversation with Ka Li, an Accessibility Analyst at National Network for Equitable Library Service. Ka's interests span across multiple domains, ranging from conducting accessibility tests to contributing to the accessible publishing industry and even practicing Kava Maga and creating tactile graphics. We delve into ...

In the sixth episode of Disability Bandwidth's second season, we spoke with Olivia Muenz, a disabled writer from New York, about her personal journey toward receiving a diagnosis and how her disability has influenced her writing. Olivia shared with us her experiences of how her disability has shaped her perspectives and motivated her to pursue writing as a means of expressing herself. We delved...

In the seventh episode of season two of Disability Bandwidth, we invite you to join us as we engage in a conversation with Julie Harris, a disability advocate, and a reasonable accommodations educator. We explore the fundamental human right of having your needs met and how it is significantly important for everyone. Moreover, we learn about Julie's journey of relearning everything and becoming ...

On the eighth episode of the second season of Disability Bandwidth, we had the pleasure of speaking with Meenakshi (Meena) Das, an engineer at Microsoft. Meena grew up in India with a stuttering disability and discovered the importance of accessibility while attending school in the United States. Now, her mission in life is to help others, she's created resources where individuals with disabili...

In this week's episode of Disability Bandwidth  Sam and Nikki engage in a conversation with Drew Herrema. We discuss Drew's complex journey into the design field despite the numerous obstacles he's faced because of his disability. Drew shares his experiences of being discouraged during his early education and being made to focus on his weaknesses instead of his strengths. Drew's love for design...

In this week's episode of Disability Bandwidth, we have an exceptional guest, Meryl Evans, CPACC, who joins Nikki and Sam to discuss the importance of respecting people's communication preferences. We talk about how not all deaf individuals use sign language and that everyone's experience with disability is unique. We also discussed how companies miss out on a significant opportunity, estimated...

During this week's episode of Disability Bandwidth, Sam and Nikki have a conversation with Shivani Shah, an architect, researcher, and accessibility consultant. Shivani sheds light on her efforts toward promoting accessibility and disability inclusion in India. She points out that the definition of disability is still evolving in India and that the country is in the process of breaking down ste...

In this week's episode, we had the privilege of speaking with Joe Devon, a co-founder of Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD). Our discussion centered around Joe's perspective on the convergence of AI and accessibility, recognizing its potential to enhance inclusivity while acknowledging the inherent risks involved. We also delved into the origins of GAAD, exploring Joe's invaluable insigh...

Last Episode of the Season! Sam and Nikki reflect on and appreciate our Season 2 journey. We explored the rapid progress in AI and its impact and limitations on accessibility. We also delve into the diverse perspectives we've explored throughout the season. These conversations explored the different experiences of living with disabilities and working in accessibility. Disability Bandwidth cele...