Throughout this series, we’ve strived to shine a light on critical aspects of the ongoing quest for greater accessibility and inclusion, for all. We’ve done so by featuring the insights and experiences of some truly incredible guests. From internationally recognized disability rights advocate Judith Heumann’s historical perspective of the movement’s hardscrabble beginnings launching demonstration after demonstration in the streets to civil rights attorney Arlene Mayerson’s relentless struggle to ensure equality across the web—we’ve confronted the many challenges head-on, and hopefully, have helped inspire listeners along the way.

In this episode, The InclusionHub Podcast’s host and Accessibility Evangelist at leading accessibility testing platform Fable, Sam Proulx, continues this important conversation by revisiting several core themes of the series, along with vital insights from past guests, to look ahead to what the future may hold for digital accessibility and inclusion, for all.

“We’ve consistently stressed the importance and ethos of ‘Nothing About Us Without Us,’ of always involving folks with disabilities in and discussion about, and every stage of, any meaningful improvement,” he explains in this next installment. “We’ve also reflected on the extraordinary gains of the disability rights movement, from the streets to the courtroom, to the digital realm.

“Well, what’s next?” Sam asks. “What do we all need to be aware of regarding our own participation in this quest? What roadblocks continue to thwart our efforts, and what potential improvements can we make, in addition to all those we’ve already outlined thus far in this series?”

Episode Guests

Sharing their thoughts, concerns, warnings, and optimism about the future are several previous guests: aforementioned disability rights activist Judith Heumann and lawyer Arlene Mayerson—founding director of the nonprofit Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund and a chief architect of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA); lifelong disability rights advocate Jennifer Keelan-Chaffins, who helped force the ADA’s passage by her participation in the Capitol Crawl when she was just 8 years old; and Laura Kalbag, co-founder of the nonprofit Small Technology Foundation and author of the book ‘Accessibility for Everyone.’

Since we’re releasing this episode in December, Sam also felt it important to highlight the significance of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, celebrated annually worldwide each Dec. 3. 

“It’s commemorated by the United Nations, World Health Organization, and governments and organizations across the planet,” he shares. “It’s a day dedicated to promoting the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities at every level of society and development, and raising awareness of the situations of persons with disabilities in all aspects of political, social, economic, and cultural life.”

Listen to The InclusionHub Podcast

To learn more about the topics and guests covered in this episode and previous episodes, subscribe to The InclusionHub Podcast via your favorite podcast apps. You can also access this episode’s transcript and read along!

The InclusionHub Podcast is sponsored by our Founding Partners: Salesforce, a leading customer relationship management software provider; Morey Creative Studios (MCS), a HubSpot Diamond Partner Agency; Fable, a leading accessibility testing platform; and Be My Eyes, a free app connecting blind and low-vision people with sighted volunteers.

More About Judith

• Small Technology Foundation
  
  
• ‘Accessibility for Everyone’
  
  
• Laura on LinkedIn