Hello, I hope you and the people you care about are all doing well.
I want to share one of my past podcast recordings with you. Something I will do often.
This one was done With Anika Jackson, for Media Scape, Insights From Digital Change Makers.
Which is sponsored by USC Annenberg’s Master of Science in Digital Media Management
(MSDMM) program. An online master’s designed to prepare practitioners to understand the evolving media landscape, make data-driven and ethical decisions, and build a more equitable future by leading diverse teams with the technical, artistic, analytical, and production skills needed to create engaging content and technologies for the global marketplace.
I mentioned this partly because I believe it is important to show my gratitude for this opportunity by sharing the word about their podcast and their ground breaking program.
But mostly I’m psyched about having recorded information about accessibility to be shared with students at such a prestigious institution as The University of Southern California.
Episode Description
Affectionately known as the Blind Blogger, Maxwell takes us on a transformative journey through the world of digital accessibility and inclusion advocacy.
Raised in a family of carnival owners in Texas, Maxwell’s story is one of remarkable resilience and innovation. Despite losing his vision to Retinitis Pigmentosa, he taught himself digital skills, such as HTML, to navigate the online world and sell carnival rides.
This episode explores Maxwell’s inspiring path, highlighting the power of storytelling over mere compliance in disability advocacy and showcasing how accessible design benefits everyone, including businesses seeking to enhance user experience and improve search engine optimization.
Uncover the untapped market potential of people with disabilities as we discuss the loyalty they extend to inclusive brands and the significant impact of thoughtful accessibility features.
We provide practical insights into website accessibility evaluation tools, like Waves and AudioEye, and offer strategies to enhance online forms and media content.
Through Maxwell’s personal experiences, we emphasize the importance of designing websites with keyboard navigation in mind and the role of alt text, audio descriptions, and closed captions in making digital content accessible and for optimizing SEO.
Join us as we discuss the challenges and triumphs of improving accessibility in streaming, podcasting, and virtual networking.
Maxwell shares his insights into podcasting and webinars, and how these platforms have enabled him to connect with broader audiences and advocate for accessibility.
We also reflect on the wisdom imparted by Maxwell’s father, underscoring the importance of motivation and perseverance.
This episode is an invaluable resource for anyone eager to understand the profound impact of accessibility advocacy and the rewards of fostering a more inclusive digital environment.
On To The Show
I do need to warn you about the opening to this podcast interview.
Anika wanted to get a taste of what my online life is like depending on a screen reader.
She also thought her students would benefit from better understanding what it is like for some people with disabilities navigating the internet.
So, we left my screen reader on for the first few minutes. You can hear the mechanical voice and us getting settled before our conversation starts in earnest.
I hope this helps you too to better understand what its like for people who are totally blind.
I’d love to hear your thoughts about including this in the podcast recording.
Warning given, now here is the audio.
I hope you enjoyed our thoughtful wide-ranging conversation about the importance of investing in digital accessibility and inclusion.
If this has sparked your desire to learn more, or it has motivated you to improve the accessibility of your company; then I’d love to talk with you.
Please use the link below to book a chat.
I look forward to sharing more with you soon.
Until then take care out there, Maxwell