Let’s talk about service dogs, speech-to-text, and that weird moment when accessibility becomes “cool” only after it’s gone mainstream.
I had the honor of sitting down with Myles Wallace for his podcast, My Disability Story, ahead of Disability Pride Month. We talked about everything from CP to curb cuts to the public choreography of using an elevator with a service dog. But the heart of it all? Canine Companions® Lovey.
Lovey is trained in over 50 tasks and, yes, smarter than most humans I know before coffee. But she’s not a pet. She’s not a perk. Under the ADA, she’s medical equipment. As essential to me as someone’s cane, glasses, or a wheelchair.
Still, public understanding? Wildly uneven. I shouldn’t have to explain federal law everyday to exist. But here we are.
And while we’re at it—assistive tech isn’t niche. You use it. Every time you dictate a text, use a screen reader, or flip on closed captions in a Starbucks. The difference is: disabled folks were the early adopters. Society just didn’t care until it became “normal.”
That’s the pattern, right? When disabled people use a tool, it’s seen as “special.” When non-disabled people use it, it becomes innovation.
The same goes for remote work. I wasn’t thriving because of the pandemic—I was surviving because finally, the system cracked open just wide enough for access. Now, as RTO mandates creep back in, too many disabled workers are being quietly pushed out, again.
And let’s be real: this isn’t just about me. It’s about how we design workplaces, shape policy, and build culture. Are we building for inclusion—or waiting for exclusion to make the news?
To Myles—thank you. For asking about things most people overlook. For letting me share how bonding with Lovey wasn’t just emotional—it was life-altering. And for giving me space to joke that calling non-disabled people “pre-disabled” might sound like a mafia threat—but also happens to be the truth.
We shouldn’t care about accessibility just because “this could be you someday.” We should care because it’s the right thing. Because humanity means looking out for each other without needing a calendar to tell us when.
So, I’ll ask:
👉 What assistive tech do you rely on every day, even if you’ve never thought of it that way?
👉 How accessible is your workplace—really?
👉 And are you treating accessibility as a one-month moment—or a year-round movement?
Let’s talk. And more importantly—let’s listen.
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