apple’s jeff bigham, disability rights lawyer haben girma, author sara hendren and more to join sight tech global
We recently announced the initial ten sessions for Sight Tech Global, a virtual event taking place December 2nd and 3rd. This event brings together leading technologists from around the globe to explore how artificial intelligence is transforming the landscape of accessibility. Today, we are happy to share details about three additional sessions. Registration is currently available and free of charge.
Designing for everyone: Accessibility innovation at Apple
Apple has consistently prioritized accessibility as a fundamental element of its design process. The company’s popular consumer products are not only widely used but also represent some of the most effective assistive technologies available. Sarah Herrlinger and Jeffrey Bigham from Apple will present the latest advancements in Apple’s accessibility technology and discuss how the company cultivates a culture focused on innovation, empowerment, and inclusivity.
Sarah Herrlinger, Senior Director of Global Accessibility Policy & Initiatives, Apple
Jeffrey Bigham, Research Lead, AI/ML Accessibility Research, Apple
Moderator: Matthew Panzarino, Editor-in-Chief, TechCrunch
Disability Rights and Inventing the Accessible Future
Often, groundbreaking technological innovations are developed without considering the needs of blind individuals. Access to technology and information is a fundamental civil right. Advocates are calling for the implementation of various strategies, including education and legal action, to guarantee that accessibility is integrated into all future technological and informational systems. Haben Girma, a Harvard Law graduate who is deafblind, disability rights attorney Lainey Feingold, and George Kerscher, Chief Innovations Officer with the DAISY Consortium, will discuss approaches to building a future that is fully accessible to people with disabilities, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color.
Haben Girma, Disability Rights Lawyer, Speaker, and Author of Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law
Lainey Feingold, Disability Rights Lawyer and Author of Structured Negotiations: A Winning Alternative to Lawsuits
George Kerscher, Chief Innovations Officer for the DAISY Consortium, Senior Advisor for Benetech’s Global Education and Literacy Group and President of the International Digital Publishing Forum (IDPF)
Moderator: Megan Rose Dickey, Senior Reporter, TechCrunch
What can a body do? How we meet the built world
Technologists frequently consider the potential effects of their work, but this is not equivalent to a genuine understanding of the real-world impact on people’s lives. It is even more valuable to understand what individuals, particularly those with disabilities, truly desire from their environments and communities. In her recent book, What Can a Body Do?, professor and designer Sara Hendren aims not to discourage innovation, but to refocus attention on the people who must interact with their surroundings, recognizing that their adaptations are often as remarkable as the technology designed to assist them (as noted in a New Yorker review by Katy Waldman).
Sara Hendren, Associate Professor, Olin College
Moderator: Will Butler, Vice President, Be My Eyes
Further session and breakout details will be announced in early November. Registration remains open, so secure your pass today!
Sight Tech Global welcomes inquiries from prospective sponsors. We extend our gratitude to our current sponsors: Amazon, Ford, Google, Humanware, Microsoft, Mojo Vision, Salesforce, Waymo and Wells Fargo. All revenue generated through sponsorships will benefit Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, a nonprofit organization that has served the Silicon Valley community for 75 years.