Article 19

Article 19 is back! After a hibernation, we're ready to bloom again. Listen to Katie and Kristen interview longtime listener, first time caller, Raquella Freeman, as she shares her disability journey with us. While ableism and sexism tried to keep her down, Raquella leaned hard on the voices that lifted her up and is now an advocate for those who follow. At the end of the episode, Katie gives Raquella a unique gift, and Raquella undergoes a surprise metamorphosis. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about web accessibility at Tammaninc.com and document accessibility, and accessibility training and consulting at ChaxTC.com. 00:00:00,171 Article 19 Intro Recording: Expression is one of the most powerful tools we have. A voice, a pen, a keyboard. Eleanor Roosevelt Recording: “The real change which must give to people throughout the world their human rights must come about in the hearts of people. We must want our fellow human beings to have rights and freedoms which give them dignity.” Article 19 Recording: Article 19 is the voice in the room. (tech Music bed) 00:00:25 Walt Zielinski: So for me, the moment that I realized digital accessibility was something I wanted to learn more about was when it dawned on me that the same sort of fight for gay rights and being visibly queer was sort of the same exact fight being fought for people with disabilities. Accessibility is all about championing people whose voices are inherently, by society, stifled or shut down because they exist outside of the typical space. And when I realized that it was all part of the same fight, that my fight for religious freedom, for queer liberation, was the same as the fight for disability rights, it became very obvious that it was something that I had to pursue in some way. 00:01:23 Rose Bliesner: I was drawn into digital accessibility when I first met people who worked in this space. When I learned that digital accessibility was something that people had careers in and something that people dedicated their lives to, I was intrigued. I met several accessibility professionals and learned that they are the most empathetic, most passionate people, and that they really, really love what they do. And so their enthusiasm for their craft really motivated me to educate myself on how to make the world more accessible. And I have loved every minute of it. 00:01:55 Rob Underwood: When I got hired by Chax to remediate InDesign documents for assistive technologies it was the very first time I realized that digital accessibility was something that I wanted to learn more about. I've been teaching InDesign for 20 years, but I never knew how to make an accessible document. When I was hired, I was taught the process of document remediation in small, incremental steps at first. I learned about the importance of headings and document structure. Once we got into color contrast, tables, and the pack checker, I understood the importance of the job we were performing, and how accessibility wasn't a nice-to-have, it was a must. The real aha moment for me was the first time DAX showed us what the documents we created sounded like with a screen reader. For the first time, I could finally grasp how people interact with assistive technology. It was then that I realized that my skillset could provide value to the team and that I wanted to learn everything I could about document remediation. Being part of a team that is at the forefront of accessibility makes me feel good about the work I'm doing. For the first time in my life, I feel like I'm working at a job that gives me purpose. 00:03:07 Taylor Kellar: When I first started working for Chax, I had a very vague understanding as to what digital accessibility meant. I thought that because technology was ever evolving, that accessibility was something that was already being automatically considered. It wasn't until I realized that programs that I use as an able-bodied individual, like Microsoft Word and Adobe Acrobat, have barriers that my coworkers who don't utilize technology in the same way have trouble accessing. What inspires me to learn more about digital accessibility is my co-workers. I feel very lucky that I get a first-hand experience learning tips and tricks on how to make my own content more accessible, and as a world that's primarily online, I think we owe it to ourselves to make content accessible for everyone. 00:03:51 Katie Samson, (cohost): Hello, everyone, and welcome to Article 19. What's up, Kristen? Kristen Witucki, (cohost): Oh, it's been a minute, Katie. We're, you know, we've taken a little break, and it's really great to be back with you again and with our producer, Markus Goldman. 00:04:06 KS: Yes, we got the band back together. KW: Yeah, we did. KS: We're going to have some great music, some awesome topics coming up in 2026. And we figured we'd start a little bit easy, starting internal to Tammann and Chax. 00:04:20 KW: with our most ardent listener, our loyalist fan, perhaps ou

Speech recognition technology has evolved from clunky early tools into powerful systems built into the devices we use every day. But for people with disabilities, these tools are far more than convenient; they can be life-changing. In this episode, host Katie Samson traces the story of speech recognition through the lived experiences of Marcus Goldman, whose father with ALS used Dragon in its early days; physicist Jim Isenberg, who relies on Dragon after a spinal cord injury; and web developer Leah Mattern, who breaks down how design decisions impact user experience. Together, they explore the independence, frustrations, and opportunities that voice technology creates, and why inclusive design matters now more than ever. Learn more about supporting people with disabilities in Tamman’s Learn Center and stay connected with us on LinkedIn. PDF Transcript Web Transcript

What does true inclusion look like, at work, in policy, and in community? In this powerful LGBTQ+ Pride and Disability Pride Month episode, Devon Murphy shares his journey of coming out as a trans man, navigating life with Autism and ADHD, and finding support along the way. Host Kristen Witucki and Devon also unpack the current threats to Section 504 and why standing together matters now more than ever. Learn more about supporting people with disabilities in Tamman’s Learn Center and stay connected with us on LinkedIn. PDF Transcript Web Transcript Show Notes: HHS Section 504: The official rule for Section 504 including the 2024 update Protect 504: Article 19 episode exploring the lawsuit questioning Section 504 DREDF Protect 504: An informative overview of the lawsuit questioning Section 504

Events are an opportunity for connection and discovery, but for people with disabilities, they often present barriers that make participation exhausting or even impossible. Our hosts, Katie & Kristen, reflect on their recent experience at the 40th CSUN Assistive Technology Conference. From noisy hallways to heavy hotel doors, they break down what worked, what didn’t, and why accessible design starts with real-world feedback. Joined by accessibility designer and advocate with lived experience, Tiffany Burtin, they dive into event accessibility insights and planning strategies! Learn more about supporting people with disabilities in Tamman’s Learn Center and stay connected with us on LinkedIn. PDF Transcript Web Transcript

From healthcare to education to employment, this conversation goes beyond policy, it’s about people, their futures, and the fight to ensure accessibility remains a fundamental right. Joined by Theo W. Braddy, a lifelong disability advocate and leader, in this episode, we explore the real-life impact of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Theo shares his personal story and lived experience, unpacking the protections 504 provides, the barriers that still exist, and what’s at stake if these rights are weakened. Web Transcript PDF Transcript Show Notes: Protect 504: Article 19 episode that explores the legal side of this lawsuit with Alison Barkoff DREDF Protect 504: An informative overview of the lawsuit that could result in Section 504 being overturned, and clear direction on what you can do to protect it DREDF Protect 504 Plain Language: A plain language PDF version of the DREDF Protect 504 page HHS Section 504: The official rule for Section 504, including the 2024 update Texas v. Becerra: The official court document for the Texas v. Becerra case

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act has been a cornerstone of disability rights for over 50 years—so why is it under attack now? In this special mini-sode, we are joined by Alison Barkoff, former head of HHS' Administration for Community Living and a lifelong disability advocate, to unpack the legal battle, the misinformation fueling it, and the action we need to take right now. This isn’t a policy debate, it’s a fight for our rights, our healthcare, and our futures. PDF Transcript Web Transcript Show Notes: DREDF Protect 504: An informative overview of the lawsuit which could result in Section 504 being overturned and clear direction on what you can do to protect it DREDF Protect 504 Plain Language: A plain language PDF version of the DREDF Protect 504 page HHS Section 504: The official rule for Section 504 including the 2024 update Texas v. Becerra: The official court document for the Texas v. Becerra case

Explore the everyday use of screen readers and discover the nuances of navigating inaccessible web pages. Host, Katie Samson dives into this topic with co-host Kristen Witucki, who shares her personal journey with assistive tech, and accessibility expert Dax Castro. this episode dives into how screen readers work, common misconceptions, and their role in creating inclusive digital spaces. Stay connected and continue the conversation with us LinkedIn. Web Transcript | PDF Transcript Show Notes JAWS Screen Reader: Screen reader used by Kristen and the world's most popular screen reader NVDA Screen Reader: Screen reader used by Dax and is available to everyone for free Alt Text as Poetry: An artistic endeavor that reframes alt text as a type of poetry Article 19 Episode, 'Can AI See the World the Way We Do?': Joined by Vice-Chair of Be My Eyes, Bryan Bashin, and Tamman document accessibility specialist, Liza Grant, we explore the differences of alt text written by a trained human and AI and what the future of AI looks like for blind and low-vision individuals. Chax: Further connect with and learn from Dax and the Chax team Access Ingenuity: Screen Reader class mentioned by Dax Screen Reader DOS Computer Demo: YouTube video of Kristen's first Screen Reader

Accessibility, advocacy, and the intersection of inclusivity with arts and culture—we explore these topics and more with Tamman’s new Senior Director of Education, Katie Samson. Drawing on her lived and professional experiences, Katie shares insights on projects like Carolyn Lazard’s Long Take and emphasizes the importance of embedding access into creative practices. Ultimately, uncovering how collective access can drive meaningful change in the arts and beyond. Learn more about supporting people with disabilities in Tamman’s Learn Center and stay connected with us on LinkedIn. PDF Transcript Web Transcript Show Notes: Carolyn Lazard: Long Take: Her debut solo exhibition in Philadelphia, Long Take continues Lazard’s ongoing experimentation with methodologies of access File/Life: An exhibit remembering the stories of Pennhurst Art Reach: A Philadelphia-based organization that creates, advocates for, and expands accessible opportunities in the arts so the full spectrum of society is served

Can we have true Democracy if voting isn’t accessible to everyone? Joined by Whitney Quesenberry, Rylin Rodgers, and Alexia Kemerling, professionals working on voting accessibility we discuss current barriers, what is being done to improve accessibility, and how voters, both with and without disabilities, can take action during the upcoming election. Visit the resources below for more on this topic and stay connected with us LinkedIn. PDF Transcript Web Transcript Meet Our Guests: Whitney Quesenberry is the director of the Center for Civic Design and worked on many accessible voting projects including the VVSG, the federal voting system standards Rylin Rodgers serves on Microsoft’s Accessibility Team as a Disability Policy Director. Influenced by her lived experience with disability, she strives to impact disability policy Alexia Kemerling leads the REV UP Campaign at the American Association of People with Disabilities. Influenced by her lived experience, she strives to build civic engagement in the disability community and improve election accessibility Show Notes Accessible Voting: A guide to a private and independent voting experience: State Guides for Disabled Voters: Created by AAPD’s REV Up Campaign, these guides can be downloaded to support disabled voters The Center For Civic Design: Offering a plethora of resources for Bing How to Vote: A resource created by Microsoft to provide easy and accessible voting information NCAV: A guide for election administrators to making voting accessible for people with disabilities

AI has the potential to bring people who are blind or who have low vision closer and closer to the visual world. Joined by Vice-Chair of Be My Eyes, Bryan Bashin, and Tamman document accessibility specialist, Liza Grant, we explore the differences of alt text written by a trained human and AI and what the future of AI looks like for blind and low-vision individuals. Learn more about supporting people with disabilities in Tamman’s Learn Center and stay connected with us on LinkedIn. PDF Transcript Web Transcript -- Show Notes Be My Eyes: An app using live video to connect blind and low-vision users who want sighted assistance Necklace Pendant Image: Photo of the discussed astrology necklace FDR Monument Image: Photo of the discussed FDR Monument discussed All About Alt Text: An Article 19 episode welcoming Tamman accessibility champions to discuss all things alt text Spotlight: Be My Eyes: This episode of Article 19 highlights what Be My Eyes is, how it works, and the impact of the organization

Accommodations are a responsibility that an employee and employer share. Continuing the conversation with our 6 guests from Part 1, we further explore the impact of accommodations and inclusive practices for both employees and organizations and the true cost of providing (or not providing) accommodations. This episode is part 2 of a 2-part podcast, listen to the first episode here. Continue learning about supporting people with disabilities in Tamman's Learn Center. Stay in touch with us on LinkedIn. PDF Transcript Web Transcript - Meet our guests: Charlotte McGhee works in client services and lives with two invisible disabilities, ulcerative colitis and POTS Daniel Hawkins is QA specialist and a deafblind individual with experience in braille, protactile, and ASL. Leah Mattern is a digital accessibility engineer, a staunch disability advocate, and lives with a genetic condition called rod monochromatism which renders her legally blind Liza Grant is a document accessibility specialist, a team lead, and a strong accessibility advocate. Marty Molloy is the president of Tamman and an accessibility advocate. Theresa Tuccillo is the administrative manager at Tamman and an accessibility advocate. -– Resources: Haben Girma: The first Deafblind person to graduate from Harvard Law School, Haben Girma is a human rights lawyer advancing disability justice. Sierra-Tamman 360-Degrees of Inclusion: A collaboration aimed at supporting your company in reaching your inclusive employment, professional development, and digital information goals. Supporting Employees with Accommodations: The Sierra Group provides insight into inclusive hiring practices. I just want to work: Article 19 host, Kristen Witucki shares her real-life experiences and offers perspective for people with disabilities who are looking for jobs. Moving Through Guilt about Biases: This blog explores clear steps to take mindful action to foster inclusive hiring practices and create systemic change. Creating a More Inclusive Hiring Practice: Offering a guide to employers to support them in creating a more inclusive hiring practice.

Workplace accommodations are a topic that drives fear and uncertainty for both employees and employers. Featuring personal anecdotes and professional insights, this documentary-style episode shares 6 unique perspectives that uncover the challenges of navigating the job market and the workplace for people with disabilities, the emotions around asking for accommodations, and the experience of hiring and supporting people with disabilities. This episode is part 1 of a 2-part podcast keep listening here. Continue learning about supporting people with disabilities in Tamman's Learn Center. Stay in touch with us on LinkedIn. PDF Transcript Web Transcript –- Meet our guests: Charlotte McGhee works in client services and lives with two invisible disabilities, ulcerative colitis and POTS Daniel Hawkins is QA specialist and a deafblind individual with experience in braille, protactile, and ASL. Leah Mattern is a digital accessibility engineer, a staunch disability advocate, and lives with a genetic condition called rod monochromatism which renders her legally blind Liza Grant is a document accessibility specialist, a team lead, and a strong accessibility advocate. Marty Molloy is the president of Tamman and an accessibility advocate. Theresa Tuccillo is the administrative manager at Tamman and an accessibility advocate. -– Resources: Haben Girma: The first Deafblind person to graduate from Harvard Law School, Haben Girma is a human rights lawyer advancing disability justice. Sierra-Tamman 360-Degrees of Inclusion: A collaboration aimed at supporting your company in reaching your inclusive employment, professional development, and digital information goals. Supporting Employees with Accommodations: The Sierra Group provides insight into inclusive hiring practices. I just want to work: Article 19 host, Kristen Witucki shares her real-life experiences and offers perspective for people with disabilities who are looking for jobs. Moving Through Guilt about Biases: This blog explores clear steps to take mindful action to foster inclusive hiring practices and create systemic change. Creating a More Inclusive Hiring Practice: Offering a guide to employers to support them in creating a more inclusive hiring practice.

Full Transcript Join members of Tamman's marketing team as we explore how we manage digital accessibility as marketers, designers, content creators, and communicators. We focus on the machinations and the nuance that goes into crafting our external image as a company as an organization that deeply, deeply cares about digital accessibility. This episode is part of a three-part series focused on marketing and design with accessibility in mind. Check out the other episodes: Using Emojis with Accessibility in Mind Art and Accessibility Additional Show Notes: Hemingway Writing Software Grammarly Writing Software Web Content Accessibility Guidelines or WCAG

Full Transcript Joined by Tamman designers, Tom Hall and Sam Waterman, we explore the intersection of art and accessibility! Diving deep into Tamman’s approach and how our team meets accessibility guidelines in both, professional designs and their personal projects. This episode is part of a 3 part series focused on marketing and design with accessibility in mind. Check out the other episodes: Emojis and Accessibility Marketing with Accessibility

Full Transcript Joined by Dr. Damien LaRock we explore the nuances and accessibility of modern communication, specifically emojis and gifs. Diving into the intended use of these icons and images, the different uses of the same icon, and how a screen reader notices them. This episode is part of a three-part series focused on marketing and design with accessibility in mind. Check out the other episodes: Marketing with an Accessibility Mindset Art and Accessibility Additional show notes: The Unbearable Ambiguity of Emojis Article

Full Transcript Tamman's Article 19 podcast speaks with author of “There Plant Eyes”, Dr. M Leona Godin. Host Kristen Witucki, chats with Leona about the personal and cultural history of blindness and they discuss her book "There Plant Eyes". This book delves into scientific, historical, religious, and cultural phenomena that have led to the ocularcentrism of our world. “There Plant Eyes" was the subject of one of our internal book talks which we also shared here on the podcast and led to our episode on Echolocation. Dr. M. Leona Godin is a writer, performer, speaker, and editor with a PhD from NYU in Early Modern Literature. Her nonfiction debut is There Plant Eyes: A Personal and Cultural History of Blindness (Pantheon Books, 2021), which The New Yorker called a “thought-provoking mixture of criticism, memoir, and advocacy.” In addition to her extensive and impressive creative pursuits, she has spent many years teaching literature and humanities courses at NYU, and she has given lectures on art, accessibility, technology, and disability!

Full Transcript The Tamman team talks about the book, “There Plant Eyes: A Personal and Cultural History of Blindness,” by Dr. M Leona Godin. This book delves into scientific, historical, religious, and cultural phenomena, that have led to the ocularcentrism of our world, a term that Leona Godin coined to mean a visual perception and way of thinking whose impact people who are blind or low vision still feel today. Host Kristen Witucki and other members of the Tamman team chat about the many different topics discussed in this book including echolocation, which led to us further exploring echocolation in this episode of Article 19!

Full Transcript Tamman's Article 19 podcast speaks with long-time accessibility strategist and stroke survivor, Robert Jolly. Host Kristen Witucki chats with Robert about how his career started, what led to his stroke, and why he returned to the cause of accessibility with even more conviction after his stroke. Robert Jolly is an accessibility-focused product manager working on the delivery team for 10x in the Technology Transformation Services (TTS) at General Services Administration. Robert has previously been co-lead for the TTS Accessibility Guild, and was a member of the W3C’s Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) Education and Outreach Working Group.

Full Transcript "Our only limits are the ones we think we have." - Daniel Kish Tamman's Article 19 podcast speaks with accessibility icons Daniel Kish, the President for the World Access for the Blind and Derrick Twene, a Consultant, Coach, mobility trainer, and motivational speaker who retrained himself to navigate the world after losing his sight as an adult. Daniel Kish is the lead founder and President of World Access for the Blind. This 501(c)(3) non-profit organization uniquely combines a self directed, no limits approach with expertise in perceptual development, positive psychology, person-centered instruction, and public education to develop and mobilize innovative. Daniel holds Master's degrees in both Developmental Psychology and Special Education. He also holds two national certifications in Orientation and Mobility, COMS and NOMC. Daniel is the first totally blind individual to obtain both certifications. He has maintained employment in this capacity since 1996 as an itinerant instructor for many school districts, rehabilitation agencies, and private persons throughout the world. He believes in a strong interdisciplinary education model, making a point to work in close collaboration with all professionals and other supports in relation to each student. Daniel has worked with nearly 1000 blind students of all ages and backgrounds, and from many cultures, as well as tens of thousands of professionals and members of the blindness community. Derrick Twene is a charismatic, highly skilled business leader with extensive commercial experience within the chemical industry. He determined that his loss of eyesight in 2018 would not prevent him from leading an independent life, and has retrained himself to continue his professional career. He now shares his journey and insights with the visually challenged of all ages as a trainer, coach and motivational speaker. Derrick's aim is to inspire & encourage people to overcome adversity by developing and channeling their skills in order to reach their full potential. Article 19 is created by Tamman Inc., hosted by Kristen Witucki, and is produced by Markus Goldman and Harper Yatvin.

Full Transcript The Tamman team talks about the biography of Judith Heumann, known as the Mother of the Disability Rights Movement. Host Kristen Witucki and additional members of the team chat about Heumann's upbringing, how her public protests directly led to immense gains for the lives of people with disabilities, and her legacy after she has passed away. Show notes are in the transcript and on the Tamman website.