AXSChat Podcast
Podcast by Antonio Santos, Debra Ruh, Neil Milliken: Connecting Accessibility, Disability, and Technology
Welcome to a vibrant community where we explore accessibility, disability, assistive technology, diversity, and the future of work. Hosted by Antonio Santos, Debra Ruh, and Neil Milliken, our open online community is committed to crafting an inclusive world for everyone.
Accessibility for All: Our Mission
Believing firmly that accessibility is not just a feature but a right, we leverage the transformative power of social media to foster connections, promote in-depth discussions, and spread vital knowledge about groundbreaking work in access and inclusion.
Weekly Engagements: Interviews, Twitter Chats, and More
Join us for compelling weekly interviews with innovative minds who are making strides in assistive technology. Participate in Twitter chats with contributors dedicated to forging a more inclusive world, enabling greater societal participation for individuals with disabilities.
Diverse Topics: Encouraging Participation and Voice
Our conversations span an array of subjects linked to accessibility, from technology innovations to diverse work environments. Your voice matters! Engage with us by tweeting using the hashtag #axschat and be part of the movement that champions accessibility and inclusivity for all.
Be Part of the Future: Subscribe Today
We invite you to join us in this vital dialogue on accessibility, disability, assistive technology, and the future of diverse work environments. Subscribe today to stay updated on the latest insights and be part of a community that's shaping the future inclusively.
Episodes
257 episodes
The Father-Son Journey Through Accessibility and Acting
Gareth Ford-Williams shares how his son Zak inability to access age-appropriate BBC games sparked a career revolutionizing digital accessibility, culminating in the development of BBC iPlayer with comprehensive accessibility features.• ...
•
28:33
Breaking Barriers: Inclusive Employment for Disabled Talent
Jane Hatton, CEO of Evenbreak, shares how her organization is transforming disability employment globally through inclusive recruitment practices and partnerships with local disability organizations.• Evenbreak started as a UK job board...
•
30:55
Beyond Numbers: Rethinking How We Measure and Support Disability
Daniel Mont, CEO and co-founder of the Center for Inclusive Policy, shares insights on bridging the gap between disability advocacy and effective policy implementation. The conversation explores how to move beyond awareness-raising to create ev...
•
26:05
How the Web Almanac Reveals Global Digital Inclusion Patterns
Mike Gifford from Civic Actions joins us to discuss the Web Almanac, a remarkable project analyzing 17 million websites and 83 terabytes of data to track accessibility trends across the web. He shares insights about comparative accessibility pe...
•
33:26
Why Are Banks Struggling with Accessibility?
Are traditional banking systems failing those who most need them? In this thought-provoking episode, David Agar and Penny Roberts share their mission to revolutionize financial accessibility through their innovative app, Bankability. Reflecting...
•
29:42
Transforming Assistive Technology: Steve Tyler on Accessibility, Innovation, and Inclusion
Unlock the secrets of transforming assistive technology with Steve Tyler, the pioneering Director of Assistive Tech and Transformation at Leonard Cheshire. Join us as Steve shares his compelling journey from the world of clinical psychology to ...
•
37:06
Breaking Barriers in European Disability Advocacy with Katrin Langensiepen
Katrin Langensiepen, the only visibly disabled woman in the European Parliament, joins us to share her compelling journey toward disability inclusion in European politics. Discover how Katrin is pushing boundaries within the institution, advoca...
•
27:14
Transforming Financial Services: Inclusion and Accessibility in Banking
This episode explores the vital role of accessibility in fintech, highlighting efforts made by industry leaders to create inclusive financial solutions for individuals with disabilities. Through personal stories and expert insights, the discuss...
•
29:11
Fostering Unity: The Future of Accessibility and Inclusion in a Changing World
There is a growing urgency to address the threats faced by DEIA initiatives in the wake of recent political upheavals. The episode highlights the emotional impact of these changes on the disability community, the need for solidarity, and the im...
•
30:51
Pioneering a New Era in Accessible Technology
Ever wondered how accessibility standards are shaping up in Europe? Tune in to hear from Susanna Laurin, the dynamic director of the Funka Foundation, as she uncovers the creative origins of the foundation's name and its pivotal role in empower...
•
29:00
Advancing Digital Solutions for Disability Inclusion
Carrie Chow takes center stage as our first guest of 2025, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience in accessibility. Her journey, rich with stories from her telecommunications and marketing background, reveals a personal passion that alig...
•
28:33
The Path to Accessibility and Growth
Get ready to master the platform transition as AXSChat ushers in 2025—the Year of the Snake—with a transformative shift from Twitter to Bluesky. Uncover the reasons behind our departure from Twitter and the impactful introduction of the Europea...
•
21:52
Empowering Inclusion in Cyber Defense
Discover how cybersecurity is being reshaped to be more inclusive and accessible for everyone, especially those with disabilities. Join us as we host an enlightening conversation with Lauren Iglehart, CISA's Chief of the Office of Equity, Diver...
•
32:34
Challenges and Opportunities in Inclusive Leadership
What does it mean to truly embrace disability inclusion in the business world? Join us for a revealing conversation with Diane Lightfoot from the Business Disability Forum, as we unravel the complexities of making disability inclusion a central...
•
29:51
From Personal Journey to Global Impact: Berna Bouwer on Inclusive Education in the UAE
What happens when an educator's personal journey intersects with a mission for global inclusion? Berna Bouwer, the Corporate Head of Inclusion at GEMS Education, shares her compelling journey from South Africa to Dubai, fueled by her passion fo...
•
32:21
Championing Disability Inclusion: Mike Liebman's Mission to Transform Corporate Culture at Bloomberg
What drives a leader to champion disability inclusion and transform corporate culture? Meet Mike Liebman, lead of the Bloomberg Abilities Community B-ABLE for the United States, as he shares his compelling journey through personal health challe...
•
29:20
Overcoming Barriers: BBC, Johny Cassidy on Accessibility, Journalism, and Advocacy
Join us for an enlightening discussion with Johny Cassidy, an inspiring BBC journalist and the leader of their Disabled Staff Employee Network, as he shares his remarkable story of overcoming accessibility challenges in journalism. Johny's jour...
•
30:31
Fostering Authentic Conversations in the Workplace
Rachel Billington, AECOM's Director of People and Culture, shares her intriguing transition from policing to leading diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) at a major global infrastructure company. Rachel recounts an inspiring moment when her i...
•
29:55
Empowering Communities with Inclusive Sports Events
Paralympian and trailblazer Sophia Warner joins us to share how she's reshaping the landscape of inclusive sports with the Superhero Series. With events like Winter Wonder Wheels and Superhero triathlon, Sophia is breaking down barriers by allo...
•
32:50
The Intersection of Sustainable Design and Inclusive Technology
Explore the synergy between sustainability and accessibility in digital design with our insightful guest, Alexis, Senior Product UX Designer at IKEA. We promise a rich discussion on the shared goals of enhancing life and the planet, while tackl...
•
29:18
Redefining Representation in Disability News
Discover the captivating journey of Peter Torres-Fremlin, the visionary behind Disability Debrief, as he reveals how a platform dedicated to disability reporting came to be. Through his experiences with international organizations and his commi...
•
37:25
The Power of Storytelling in Social Change
In this episode of AXSChat, with John Graham, founder of the Giraffe Heroes Project, talks about his adventurous life, the importance of storytelling in inspiring action, and the need for individuals to take risks to promote diversity, equity, ...
•
37:49
Shaping an Inclusive Future in Tech
Darryl Adams, a luminary in the field of accessibility, joins us to share the extraordinary path that defined his 28-year career at Intel, shaped profoundly by his personal experiences with retinitis pigmentosa and single-sided deafness. Darryl...
•
32:03
Empathy and Innovation in Online Retail
How do you transform a major online retailer into a beacon of accessibility? Join us as we sit down with Tzveta Dinova, the pioneering accessibility lead at ASOS, who shares her compelling journey from design and education to becoming a trailbl...
•
32:45
Equity in Tech: Making Applications Accessible
What if the applications we use every day were designed with everyone in mind? Join us on AXSChat as we welcome Sara Faatz, Director of Community Relations at Progress, who shares her expertise on the importance of human-centric software and ac...
•
30:26
