This week on The Lens: Living Diverse, Ben sits down with Anne Mok, a content creator, public speaker, author, storyteller, and advocate. Anne shares her identities and experiences as an Asian woman with sight loss who immigrated to Canada at a young age, reflecting on what her culture means to her. Once shy, Anne found confidence through the power of storytelling. With her calm presence, she shares insights on how to overcome challenges, embrace authenticity, and encourages others to share their stories. Whether you're looking for motivation or practical storytelling tips, this episode will leave you feeling empowered and ready to view life through a lens of purpose.

The Lens: Living Diverse – Finding Purpose in View with Anne Mok

How will recent ADA updates impact digital accessibility in higher education? Kevin Tyler and Jamie Axelrod discuss the shift from reactive to proactive compliance, the legal stakes of non-conformance, and why universal design is the key to a more inclusive digital future.

Shifting from Reactive to Proactive ADA Compliance

“It feels like my inclusion was optional, and that is a scary message to be told. ‘We were doing you a favour by letting you in the room.’”

AccessNow founder and CEO Maayan Ziv has been working in the accessibility space for over a decade—long enough to know that progress is slow and takes a fight. With DEIA currently being blamed for “everything from bad business decisions to plane crashes,” Ziv joins to explain why she feels the fight is “slipping through our fingers.”

Rejecting the rejection of DEIA with AccessNow’s Maayan Ziv

For more information, bios, resources, and transcripts visit adalive.org/episodes/episode-139/. How many of us dreamed of running away to join the circus when we were kids? For many of us, the circus was bigger than life. In this episode of ADA Live! we are going to the “big top” to learn how a circus can be made accessible for everyone, including people with disabilities. Our guest for this episode is Lisa Lewis, the founder and CEO of Omnium Circus, an inclusive and accessible circus created by and for the whole community, including people with disabilities. 

Episode 139:  Omnium Circus Creates a Show for Everyone

Google Maps is a free, interactive digital map for navigation. It is often used for looking up an address and getting directions from your current location. 

Google Maps

By embracing diversity and creating accessible environments, brands are not only making a positive impact on society but also fostering stronger connections with their customers.

Organizations like TRRAIN (TRUST FOR RETAILERS & RETAIL ASSOCIATES OF INDIA) are doing incredible work in capacity building, empowering individuals with disabilities, and helping businesses create more inclusive workplaces. 

I enjoyed discussing this with Ameesha Prabhu co-founder TRRAIN , a SABERA Awardee, on Impact Leaders and Simply Suparnaa. 

Revolutionising Accessibility in Retail Spaces TRRAIN

In 1987, Congress passed Public Law 100-9, designating March as “Women’s History Month,” intended to honor “women of every race, class, and ethnic background” who have made “historical contributions to the growth and strength of the Nation in countless recorded and unrecorded ways.”

One academic discipline where the contributions of women have been overlooked and undervalued is science. Cailin O’Connor, UC Irvine Chancellor’s Professor of logic and philosophy of science, has spent significant time studying scientific communities and how they learn about the world together – and how cultures evolve unfair rules around characterizations like race and gender. Because O’Connor is a female working in science herself, she has paid special attention to the unique histories, challenges and successes of women who have chosen career paths in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

In this episode of The UCI Podcast, O’Connor addresses why women have been historically underrepresented in science and the barriers that still exist, how the accessibility of science careers for women has changed, and what can be done to increase female representation.

“Divine Life Society,” the music for this episode, was provided by Jesse Gallagher via the audio library in YouTube Studio.

UCI Podcast: Women in science

For this episode, we listen in on a conversation between three Wex staffers who are essential to the center’s efforts to make the arts accessible for all. Wex Accessibility Specialist Tammy Eckard, Events Manager Francesca Mouery, and Social Media and Digital Accessibility Manager Austin Dunn sat down to discuss the role each of them play in this work, how the work is evolving, and how Tammy is building on the efforts of her predecessor, the late Helyn Marshall.

WexCast: What's New in Accessibility

Emojis can be a valuable tool for digital communication, adding color, tone, and visual interest. However, emoji can create significant barriers for a substantial portion of users. By adhering to the outlined guidelines and integrating accessibility considerations into the design process, content creators can ensure their use of emojis is inclusive and enhances the user experience for everyone. 

Emoji Use Guidelines

In this week's episode, classic crime aficionado Kate Jackson talks about her book, How to Survive a Classic Crime Novel. We also delve into the limitations around accessibility in the UK publishing industry, the power of finding a writing community and how classic crime is anything but cosy. 

Find out more:
https://crossexaminingcrime.wordpress.com/
https://shorturl.at/vvmi3

Music credit: 'Water of Tyne' performed by Edinburgh University Brass Band (2009) arranged by Jack Stobbs, edited and scored for Brass Band by David Dye. Used with kind permission of the publisher, arranger and performers.

Episode 73: Kate Jackson

This is the Engineering Culture Podcast, from the people behind InfoQ.com and the QCon conferences.
In this podcast, Shane Hastie, Lead Editor for Culture & Methods spoke to Erin Doyle about her journey as a generalist engineer, her passion for web accessibility, the importance of empathy and psychological safety in engineering teams, and her commitment to building better developer experiences by fostering collaboration, continuous learning, and vulnerability among technical professionals.

Read a transcript of this interview: https://bit.ly/4jHqL8I

Subscribe to the Software Architects’ Newsletter for your monthly guide to the essential news and experience from industry peers on emerging patterns and technologies:
https://www.infoq.com/software-architects-newsletter 

Upcoming Events:

InfoQ Dev Summit Boston (June 9-10, 2025)
Actionable insights on today’s critical dev priorities.
devsummit.infoq.com/conference/boston2025

InfoQ Dev Summit Munich (October 15-16, 2025)
Essential insights on critical software development priorities.
https://devsummit.infoq.com/conference/munich2025

QCon San Francisco 2025 (November 17-21, 2025)
Get practical inspiration and best practices on emerging software trends directly from senior software developers at early adopter companies.
https://qconsf.com/ 

QCon AI New York 2025 (December 16-17, 2025)
https://ai.qconferences.com/

The InfoQ Podcasts: 
Weekly inspiration to drive innovation and build great teams from senior software leaders. Listen to all our podcasts and read interview transcripts:

- The InfoQ Podcast https://www.infoq.com/podcasts/ 
- Engineering Culture Podcast by InfoQ https://www.infoq.com/podcasts/#engineering_culture 
- Generally AI: https://www.infoq.com/generally-ai-podcast/ 

Follow InfoQ:
- Mastodon: https://techhub.social/@infoq 
- Twitter: twitter.com/InfoQ
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/infoq
- Facebook: bit.ly/2jmlyG8
- Instagram: @infoqdotcom
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/infoq

Write for InfoQ: Learn and share the changes and innovations in professional software development.
- Join a community of experts.
- Increase your visibility.
- Grow your career.
https://www.infoq.com/write-for-infoq

Transcript

Building Empathy and Accessibility: Fostering Better Engineering Cultures and Developer Experiences

In this episode of 'Where Am I?', we hit the cinemas to test out audio description devices! Lima and Jamal, both vision-impaired, share their experiences—do these devices make movies more accessible, or is streaming at home with AD the better option? We talk about what works, what doesn't, and how cinemas can improve.

Supported by the City of Sydney.

Where Am I? - Trip To The Cinema

In this episode of Where Am I?, we dive into accessibility at the Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre in Ultimo! Lima and Jamal head to the public pool for a swim. How inclusive are these facilities for people with vision impairment? We explore the challenges, celebrate the wins, and talk about what could make a splash in the future.

Supported by the City Of Sydney.

Where Am I? - Accessibility at the Public Pool

This is the Engineering Culture Podcast, from the people behind InfoQ.com and the QCon conferences.
This is the Engineering Culture Trends Report for 2025. Featuring the InfoQ editorial team and special guest Charity Majors, they discuss how AI is transforming software development with dramatic productivity gains alongside quality concerns, emphasize the continued importance of team collaboration, observability, engineering metrics, and mentorship of junior engineers in creating high-performing software teams.

Read a transcript of this interview: https://bit.ly/42F8TWt

Subscribe to the Software Architects’ Newsletter for your monthly guide to the essential news and experience from industry peers on emerging patterns and technologies:
https://www.infoq.com/software-architects-newsletter 

Upcoming Events:

InfoQ Dev Summit Boston (June 9-10, 2025)
Actionable insights on today’s critical dev priorities.
devsummit.infoq.com/conference/boston2025

InfoQ Dev Summit Munich (October 15-16, 2025)
Essential insights on critical software development priorities.
https://devsummit.infoq.com/conference/munich2025

QCon San Francisco 2025 (November 17-21, 2025)
Get practical inspiration and best practices on emerging software trends directly from senior software developers at early adopter companies.
https://qconsf.com/ 

QCon AI New York 2025 (December 16-17, 2025)
https://ai.qconferences.com/

The InfoQ Podcasts: 
Weekly inspiration to drive innovation and build great teams from senior software leaders. Listen to all our podcasts and read interview transcripts:

- The InfoQ Podcast https://www.infoq.com/podcasts/ 
- Engineering Culture Podcast by InfoQ https://www.infoq.com/podcasts/#engineering_culture 
- Generally AI: https://www.infoq.com/generally-ai-podcast/ 

Follow InfoQ:
- Mastodon: https://techhub.social/@infoq 
- Twitter: twitter.com/InfoQ
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/infoq
- Facebook: bit.ly/2jmlyG8
- Instagram: @infoqdotcom
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/infoq

Write for InfoQ: Learn and share the changes and innovations in professional software development.
- Join a community of experts.
- Increase your visibility.
- Grow your career.
https://www.infoq.com/write-for-infoq

InfoQ Culture & Methods Trends in 2025

In this episode of Where Am I? vision-impaired broadcaster Lima Peni and producer living with disability Ellie are on a solo return trip from Sydenham to Martin Place on the Metro M1 train in Sydney. A first for both of them. Along the way, they talk accessibility, what works, what doesn't, and share a a few laughs along the way.

Supported by the City Of Sydney.

Where Am I? – On the Metro Line

In the final episode of Where Am I?, we mark International Guide Dogs Day (30th April) by heading to Martin Place with vision-impaired broadcaster Lima Peni to join the celebrations and explore the impact of guide dogs in the community. We’re joined by Karlee Symonds and her guide dog Isla, as well as Ryan Jones from Guide Dogs NSW/ACT, for a powerful conversation about illegal access refusals, public misconceptions, and raising awareness of the vital jobs guide dogs do every day.

Supported by the City Of Sydney.

Where Am I? - International Guide Dogs Day

This podcast from Web Critique Hub talks about how first impressions play a crucial role in a person liking a website, and how design should be inspected. It also talks about the importance of simplicity, accessibility, and quality over quantity. It builds on our earlier screencast, shifting from usability basics to user impact. People do not need to have a technical background to be a part of the WCH community. 
Check us out  at https://webcritiquehub.wordpress.com/

This podcast includes a PSA about the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), a nonprofit that protects online privacy, free speech, and digital freedom. Learn more at https://www.eff.org/

Link to YouTube screencast video - https://youtu.be/7_BCxwa-v1U

Creative Commons background music credits:-
1.
"Morning" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
2.
Music: "Calmant" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Web Critique Hub - First Impressions, Design, and Digital Experience

Northern Voices explores Northern writers (published and unpublished), storytelling and publishing. The podcast is hosted by Jen Bowden, a writer, editor and journalist with a PhD in Creative Writing from Curtin University exploring biases against the North in the UK book industry.

Covering Canadian startups and tech innovation since 2012.

A space where internet users share feedback on website usability and digital experience.
https://webcritiquehub.wordpress.com/

A small team of caring individuals dedicated to bridging the gap between technology and people with disabilities.

Software engineers, architects and team leads have found inspiration to build better, high performing teams by listening to the weekly InfoQ Podcast. We have achieved that by interviewing some of the top CTOs, engineers and technology directors from companies like Uber, Netflix and more. Over 500,000 downloads in the last 3 years.

The Wexner Center for the Arts is The Ohio State University's multidisciplinary, international laboratory for the exploration and advancement of contemporary art.

Through exhibitions, screenings, performances, artist residencies, and educational programs, the Wexner Center acts as a forum where established and emerging artists can test ideas and where diverse audiences can participate in cultural experiences that enhance understanding of the art of our time.

In its programs, the Wexner Center balances a commitment to experimentation with a commitment to traditions of innovation and affirms the university's mission of education, research, and community service.

Welcome to Simply Suparnaa’s podcasts, where meaningful conversations meet inspiration!

I'm Suparnaa Chadda, a seasoned on-air talent, formerly with Radio City, where I earned my moniker 'SimplySuparnaa.' Here, I host impactful discussions with leaders who are shaping the world.

Tune in for insightful conversations, inspiring stories, and practical wisdom from those who are making a difference. Let's grow, learn, and thrive together!"

ADA Live!  is a free monthly show broadcast nationally on the Internet. Ask questions and learn about your rights and responsibilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Leaders in the field will share their knowledge, experience and successful strategies that increase the participation of persons with disabilities in communities and businesses.

ADA Live! is produced by the Southeast ADA Center, a member of the ADA National Network and a project of the Burton Blatt Institute (BBI) at Syracuse University.

The CNIB Podcast Network is a collection of audio programming designed to give a voice to people across the CNIB community as they share their personal stories of life with sight loss. Listen to the episodes on any of the platforms listed below. If you enjoy what you hear, subscribe!

About the University of California, Irvine: Founded in 1965, UCI is the youngest member of the prestigious Association of American Universities and is ranked among the nation’s top 10 public universities by U.S. News & World Report. The campus has produced three Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UCI has more than 36,000 students and offers 224 degree programs. It’s located in one of the world’s safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange County’s second-largest employer, contributing $7 billion annually to the local economy and $8 billion statewide. For more on UCI, visit www.uci.edu.

Radio Skid Row is a grassroots community radio station based in Marrickville, broadcasting to the Inner City Sydney. This includes the municipalities of Leichhardt, Marrickville and the City of Sydney.
Radio Skid Row plays some of the best hip hop and reggae you will hear on air Sydney. we also broadcast in 15 languages!

Our SoundCloud page invites you to listen to programs, interviews and segments.

New tracks tagged #Accessibility