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United Spinal’s Tech Access Initiative connects people with SCI/D to tech industry leaders to ensure the future of technology is accessible
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mart speakers, speech-to-text, autonomous vehicles, virtual reality … ground-breaking technological innovations like these have never been developed with people with spinal cord injuries and other mobility disabilities in the room. Until now. United Spinal Association launched its Tech Access Initiative in February 2020 to ensure people with mobility disabilities have a voice in the future of technology. It’s 18 months later, and that voice is ringing out louder than ever. At the heart of the Initiative are the Tech Access Group, composed of tech-savvy people with mobility disabilities and the Tech Access Council, a collection of representatives from leading tech companies like Apple, Comcast, Facebook, Microsoft, Google, Teladoc and Zoox. The TAG holds bimonthly meetings to share its experiences with TAC members on a specific technology — what works, what doesn’t, what could be better and what’s on the wish-list when it comes to accessibility. The meetings give both groups a chance to listen, discuss and ask questions to improve the accessibility of the next generation of technology.
Brook McCall (center) is passionate about connecting tech professionals to United Spinal members. Here she and her caregiver, Stacie Perry, are featured with NFL stars Shaquem and Shaquill Griffin at the Microsoft Ability Summit.
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