Erin Perkins of Mabely Q- Design for Accessibility

Erin Perkins is a champion of disability rights and an inspiring entrepreneur who advocates for greater accessibility, inclusiveness, and understanding within the business world. As a deafblind woman herself – founder of small online business Mabely Q – as well as an experienced speaker/educator, Erin’s message has been heard by CEOs around the country. Her unique gifts are her life experiences which she compassionately shares with others through keynote speeches, private workshops or one-on-one consulting sessions to foster true inclusion at all levels -- allowing people with disabilities equal opportunities to succeed professionally.

Contact her for accessibility assessments at Successible, a platform that is designed to empower businesses through accessibility education, actionable tips and community.

Register for the wearables tech ecosystem at www.WearableTechVentures.org

Transcript

00:06.67
wearabletakeover
Hello wearable takeover can you believe we are in season 3 yes and we are recording these particular episodes during during a special time not only is it the time of our global. Wearable tech hackathon known as tech remix and it's an exciting time because we're in-person and virtual and these podcast episodes are used to give clues to our participants about products that they can develop for the wearable tech ecosystem. But it's also an incredibly special time because it's. Disability pride month and I'm super excited to have our guest for today who is not only an innovator but she's an advocate and she's someone that you want to know so I'm going to introduce you to Erin Perkins who is an accessibility educator and. Speaker and Erin is based here in the d andv. She's the Ceo of maybele q and she also found it successful now what is that you ask you want to stay tuned but let me tell you a little bit more about Aaron before we get into the meat of the episode. So Erin perkins. Is a champion of disability rights and an inspiring entrepreneur who advocates for greater accessibility inclusiveness and understanding within the business world as a deafblind woman herself she founded her online business male q as well as.

01:38.69
wearabletakeover
As an experienced speaker educator Erin's message has been heard by ceos around the country. Her unique gifts are her life experiences which she compassionately shares with others through keynote speeches private workshops or 1 on 1 consulting sessions to foster true inclusion at all levels in this. Allows people with disabilities equal opportunities to succeed professionally so wearable. Takeover we are the platform for wearable tech innovation and making sure that all underrepresented and nontraditional founders have a spot at the table. Let's give a warm. Virtual round of applause to Erin Perkins yay

02:17.51
Erin
Thank you. Can you have can you just like be my empty every time please.

02:26.89
wearabletakeover
Ah, we will tag team together and let and folks let me tell you Erin is dynamic I actually witnessed her in action in person. We both were dinner hosts and speakers for get cities their hack dinner hack for impact dinner series. And this was an initiative that launched here in the dmmb for those of you that maybe say it was D Andb Dc Merland Virginia area dmb when I say that and so we launched we hope to launch a national effort Aaron where we're saying hey if we're going to build tech businesses and and enterprises.

02:58.49
Erin
Um.

03:03.21
wearabletakeover
You need to look at some of these things so number one shout out to the team at get cities. Thank you, thank you? Thank you shout out to the team at porchfest. We love you. We love you. We love your entire team and thank you for giving us the opportunity to impact folks. But again Erin that's how we met girl making history.

03:15.49
Erin
Yes, I'm so grateful for that platform because it's truly awesome. What they are doing is putting the human back into tech and I think that will allow us forget it that.

03:29.42
wearabletakeover
Absolutely.

03:33.47
Erin
So human baby the tech and we need to really bring that back to our life.

03:39.38
wearabletakeover
Absolutely absolutely and so we we launched this national effort I believe the dinner series is about to end right now for for this particular season but it was an invite only private dinner series I mean and it was lux it was absolutely bad but 1 of the things that Erin did was she.

03:50.25
Erin
Um.

03:59.22
wearabletakeover
Provided some awareness for folks that were in the room as to how they can approach accessibility from not only a tech product perspective but from the workplace and hiring et cetera so Erin why don't you provide. Let's start off there. Why don't you provide people with the insight of what it was like to develop your discussion and again get cities is backed by pivotal ventures which is a melinda gates company. So this was a big deal. So what was that like developing that and what did you learn from it.

04:23.23
Erin
Are.

04:29.98
Erin
So it was really fascinating because at first I was like way I'm gonna do that site I've got it put together this workshopp item was really interesting because it really opened my mind to that. How can I help bigness did understand. And have this de desire to create andclued like business from start to dot to like from the start. That's the important part the palm man most business did don't we even incorporate it taxability until they like. Way past the launch and then I feel like they spent too much money trying to fit everything that they hadn't done in the past and so what I did was I did this um warmup activity. You know we. All hate theed tightbreaker. But I think we completely love them and I asked each person to describe themselves visually and I we describe ourselves we would each hold up piece of the yan and Toft the yarn around.

05:27.70
wearabletakeover
Yeah, we do.

05:43.40
Erin
And then what we would do it at the end. It was like a web and then I asked 5 people who had disability to drop their drink and the way I wanted them to see it is that people with disability are such an inteal part. Of society that when you exclude them. It makes everything so much weaker like we are so important and having that visual I think really help everybody like go oh my gosh. This may total thing because.

06:07.40
wearabletakeover
Yes.

06:17.75
wearabletakeover
Yes.

06:20.90
Erin
I Mean we also need to recognize that people with disability don't always share that they have a disability and you know what.

06:25.52
wearabletakeover
Yes, well pause pause right? there. So okay, so a disability does not mean it's visible right? and and you were saying during a dinner series that what's the percentage of people that will have a disability in their lifetime at some point it was like high percentage like over 70%

06:32.39
Erin
Bright.

06:41.28
Erin
I feel like everybody will have a disability yet 1 point in their lifetime but the number of statistics for the United States 1 in 4 people have a disability. Yeah and then globally 15 team with 10

06:52.60
wearabletakeover
1 a bore.

06:59.85
Erin
Of the people in the world have a disability so we had about 20 people there. So when you drop had 5 people drop their string that web became completely weak as like it wouldn't have strong anymore. So we very important and that.

07:01.60
wearabletakeover
Wow and boom.

07:10.87
wearabletakeover
Yes.

07:18.28
Erin
You're right? The key thing is disability is not visible mine isn it vegetable until you might see how I interact with people or if I speak because sometimes people are like you down like you're from here. I get that you sound like you're from your thank you still is tight. Not everybody had disability at part of their story and that's totally Fine. It doesn't need to be part of with joy it part of my story because of my like is experience.

07:36.10
wearabletakeover
Um.

07:39.34
wearabletakeover
And.

07:53.29
wearabletakeover
Yes.

07:54.73
Erin
Because if I wasn't born de I would not be what I am today about it I my disability led me to certain think I ended up doing in my life.

08:06.11
wearabletakeover
And you really are making an impact and we're so excited that you are going to be hosting office hours for our participants and other startups that want some insight as to how they can develop better products that are totally inclusive and speaking of life experiences.

08:20.15
Erin
Yeah, yeah.

08:24.53
wearabletakeover
There's so much history happening in here Erin so this is July um I just saw a post the other day from a young woman a young deaf woman who was signing on Instagram as she was saying how how can this be 2023 and when the airlines at the airport when they're calling for.

08:35.28
Erin
Um.

08:43.24
wearabletakeover
Preboarding passengers or those that need assistance they're speaking on a microphone but they have no one there to assist those that may be deaf and she was saying that oftentimes when she goes to the gate they will have a wheelchair with her name on it but never ask what assistance that she needs and so.

08:56.91
Erin
Oh yeah.

09:02.68
wearabletakeover
I Thought that that was so mind-boggling that How how are we so backwards that that is still happening and you said when we started this podcast episode that there are companies that do not consider this at the beginning they consider at the end and I think it's kind of interesting because threads. Threads just got called out. So Why don't you talk a little bit about the new launch of threads and how that's impacting the lack of inclusivity.

09:27.96
Erin
So I would kind of like pulled into thread on it I was I know I don't need an another ah ah, but then I have Bomo dear mixing out because I didn't like Twitter that my thought I joined but and then instantly the the right off the back. There's no al test available. There's no way. Yeah, no alt text. There's no way to um what it did it like there's no way to en life this ta.

09:47.91
wearabletakeover
No art text.

10:00.51
wearabletakeover
Oh.

10:02.56
Erin
So if yeah like you can't like adjust anything any new studying the contrast with some people really bad though though it had to do with a lot of like the viibility people who have low vision that the struggling is not compatible with.

10:14.52
wearabletakeover
And. Who.

10:20.70
Erin
Green reader and they're like the people saying that when they try to use the green reader it just doesn't make anything whatoever. Yeah, and if it coming from a company matter that has found a Facebook.

10:29.56
wearabletakeover
Oh no.

10:39.35
Erin
It took good. Well they didn't found Instagram but they took over they built all the thing into the platform and then you built out threat how the heck do you forget to incorporate acceptability in your law.

10:40.40
wearabletakeover
They bought it yet.

10:55.25
wearabletakeover
Well, you know what air we're calling it. We're calling you out meta we're calling you out Zuckerberg you know we are here at wearable tech ventures as the official global ecosystem where we develop and promote wearable technology with a focus on underrepresented founders.

10:57.80
Erin
There's no race.

11:08.52
Erin
Ah.

11:12.49
wearabletakeover
Meta you should be partnering with us on this stuff and we're going to bring in Erin to say at the table to say okay, she's our consultant you need to work with us because this does not need to continue to happen. So yes, it's exciting in the news you know for or a number of different reasons but you missed it.

11:25.17
Erin
In here.

11:30.72
wearabletakeover
You missed it. You could have had a huge wint so call us call us Meta call us for that.

11:34.47
Erin
And now a light.

11:39.10
wearabletakeover
Get get at us get at us boo. Okay, so that experience So ah, um, and yes, they they need to make sure that they're paying and you know you know I'm not a fan of saying this. But maybe I should say it all. You gotta do is Sue see what happens.

11:46.48
Erin
And here.

11:53.40
Erin
I have that same approach to it like 1 of those things where I'm just like well I'm here we could easily ste but like that's not how I work it but I want to work with company that.

12:05.20
wearabletakeover
Um, yeah.

12:10.91
Erin
Generally want to make sure they are being inclusive all around but also want them to understand that what the creating really does mean a lot to people with just disabilities like oh I actually matter to you.

12:13.38
wearabletakeover
Yes.

12:22.66
wearabletakeover
Go ahead. If.

12:29.36
Erin
And it can be like the simplest thing like I was going out I would out with a friend. We were getting ready to play pick a ball and the woman tells us to come over and she's able to tell us the score by Justur with her him more. 1 2 you know all of that and we really appreciated that because like it's little thing just like make a life easier. We already have challenge it though make our life easier at all Weekend. Can.

12:51.36
wearabletakeover
Nice.

13:04.64
wearabletakeover
You know we need to share that we need to share that concept. There's ah a young gentleman that has a pickle ball startup and so I met him when I spoke at an event in June and so I think ah we need to put you in that circle so he knows to consult with you but on the opposite side. How do you like pickle ball because I mean everybody's investing in pickle ball and they're having these pickle ball leaks. But.

13:26.45
Erin
It's so easy. That's why it's still eat it' so easy to pick up it not like a difficult board to learn a not it. It's like badmintonpingpong and tenni.

13:36.56
wearabletakeover
Ah.

13:43.93
Erin
All in 1 basketballball all in one though, it's just fun.

13:47.25
wearabletakeover
Ah, okay, all right? So folks of when we all get together Erin you're and my team since you know how to play so folks if you see us in these streets. We challenge you to a game of pickleball. But hey you know what outside of those challenges.

13:52.76
Erin
Yeah, okay.

14:03.33
wearabletakeover
And you have a huge task in front of you with challenging businesses and so why don't you tell us a little bit about how you're helping folks with successful. What is it and what does it do.

14:04.67
Erin
Yeah.

14:16.14
Erin
Dos deucible I found it earlier this year I had a membership platform where the reason why I did it work because I do have an affectibility made court. But I'm not updating it because don't.

14:30.37
wearabletakeover
Okay.

14:33.48
Erin
Stand up and not. It's like good information. It's like forever information but with how fast technology changes I felt like there was a need to ah be able to have a way to easily update things.

14:41.76
wearabletakeover
Yes.

14:50.37
Erin
And do thing and bite di pieces. No no one wantes step for more than like two minutes watching a video so I'm trying to make like east thing jual e like on my onto techbo I have.

14:58.40
wearabletakeover
Yes.

15:07.62
Erin
Divided up by different areas of your business so we have social media we have email marketing. We have event which could be input to know online. We have your website do if you like all I want to focus on just updating my website you can go in. And then all these different pieces that you can Learn. You can learn by reading listeninging or watching though the different way of consuming the content that money might feel feel like they learn just by listening back. My husband he liked to listen.

15:31.61
wearabletakeover
Wow.

15:44.30
Erin
I Can't comprehend that I learned better by a combination of watching and reading So I'm doing that we have to think about how people want to learn and then they can take that and just apply it right away. It's so easy to take the tip and start applying it So we have that pet.

15:47.29
wearabletakeover
Here.

16:03.92
Erin
And then we have resourcesed and tool. So many new technology pieceses are coming out like all the time every day. How do we like ver fire though. It's like if somebody in my membership like that hey that this new tool can you tell me if this is a textable or not.

16:10.48
wearabletakeover
And.

16:22.91
Erin
Me and like a couple of people can go in text it out and day is you know what? it's not good or like oh this is Great. We're definitely gonna recommend it but we had that and then we have like different article that we like to share like just sharing like what people are doing around the world. And then we have other bank owners that in the community that are going to be able to be like hey I have problem. How do I solve that and then I can input get my input but other business owner can be like you know what I tried it this way. Like I think the four or the like don't do it if way because I believe we're always better Together. No One should do business alone like just simple so it's just like getting that access without feeling overwhelm and without being drpa.

17:06.24
wearabletakeover
Absolutely absolutely.

17:20.86
Erin
Technical with language period honestly learning about f deability and the web detectable content Guideline that stuff is dry that self is born iphone sleep.

17:31.40
wearabletakeover
Um, yes, yeah.

17:36.44
Erin
I Don't want people to be like oh my God I don't want to know about the I'm trying to make it easy I'm trying to make it fun I'm trying to make it people feel like you know what I do want to do that because it's really not that hard.

17:49.50
wearabletakeover
I love it. So Aaron you you have a wonderful value proposition here. So basically you're saying hey if you're building a business building a product. You don't have to necessarily hire someone to do all this research. All you have to do is get a membership and in a couple of minutes you will have the answer to all of your needs.

18:01.25
Erin
Debt.

18:09.39
wearabletakeover
Let's get your product tested with a partner such as successful right? I Love it I Love it and so this is important because one of the things that we're doing here at wearable tech ventures as we are developing and promoting wearable technology. We're making sure that any startup and product that we support has been done with.

18:12.83
Erin
Yeah, for sure.

18:28.86
Erin
Um.

18:29.31
wearabletakeover
Purpose. So no gimmicks. So as we are vetting products as we are vetting startups and leaders for investment. 1 of the questions we may ask in the future is it has this accessibility has the accessibility been tested and what platform have you used and so. Aaron's Aaron's business is here is a valuable partner for our ecosystem because you could get it done fast. You can get real time feedback and I think when for startups when you are pitching for investment to have Aaron sign off you know to have that.

18:56.38
Erin
So hence.

19:04.97
wearabletakeover
Ah, sign off from successful to say hey this works This is vetted I think it's only going to make you that much stronger. So what does the membership look like is it a year long month a month or how does that work and what's the but approximate value.

19:14.33
Erin
So I've I'm designed it so that it gonna be 300 through the end of July for the year which is break down to $75 a quarter two e d but after July is going up to 500 per a year for one person.

19:22.42
wearabletakeover
Nice. Easy. Okay.

19:34.80
Erin
But if you want your team if you have more than 4 people on your team. It's 1800 for the whole year. So if you have like this people that's just a great deal because you're saving money and a four year. But.

19:43.18
wearabletakeover
It is a deal.

19:49.95
Erin
You should renew it annually because the goal is to have to testable be certifying big known that you are you have met all newest certification to be acceptable girl will get through that point. But right now it's a learning.

19:56.83
wearabletakeover
Yes.

20:03.00
wearabletakeover
I Love it.

20:09.18
Erin
If making sure you're implementing and taking it over.

20:14.30
wearabletakeover
This is this is wonderful. This is a win-win for everyone and again if we're doing what we're supposed to do um and ultimately what we're doing here with this revolutionary movement here at wearable tech ventures is making sure that everyone that should have a seat at the table.

20:15.71
Erin
For.

20:30.18
Erin
Yeah.

20:30.57
wearabletakeover
Has a seat at the table. So folks you really need to log on right now to successful and make sure that you are talking to Aaron and and getting that membership because it's it's nominal it's nominal like

20:44.97
Erin
Yeah, it. So it's just a low investment. Yeah, why run in that's what I wanted to have it be a low investment but very valuable because I want you to be able to intigatee that into your business.

20:46.10
wearabletakeover
You can afford this or you could get a grant to afford it. You know what me we we should look in that.

21:04.76
Erin
From the beginning.

21:04.83
wearabletakeover
I love it. So I'm gonna put a challenge out there excuse me to any sponsor that may be listening. Why don't you work with us to fund at least 20 or 25 memberships for startups within the wearable tech ecosystem reach out to us so that we can um that would be an awesome like grant challenge or you know something with you know for for startups. So we're looking for a partner to help us. Let's just say 25 we're looking for a partner. To help us fund this membership for 25 startups for the next year halla at us at hello at wearable techventures.com and we'll make sure that that membership and everything goes over to Aaron I'm loving it. That's that's the type of stuff we need to be doing.

21:52.82
Erin
Yeah I love that I Love that now you got my brain learning five? yeah.

21:56.84
wearabletakeover
I Love it too. Oh yes, honey because that's what we do here support our startups and and you are an eco valuable ah incredibly valuable ecosystem partner. So with that being said in mind folks I don't have Covid so that was weird with that coffee just happened here I'm just gonna call it out as it is but talk.

22:12.11
Erin
A.

22:15.10
wearabletakeover
But experience right? So aarin you said that you were born death is that correct so walk us through your early experience of learning how to communicate. Um what? what was that like for you? What are some of the challenges or or when.

22:18.90
Erin
Yes.

22:33.30
wearabletakeover
And you know that you were deaf right? and that that's a weird question to ask because this was your normal right? But when did the world in a sense tell you or that you know that you were deaf so walk us through that whole experience.

22:45.30
Erin
So I'm very fortunate because my oldest sister and I were both born de um, let's just do it not je hearing but we have no history of deafness in our family. My it took my.

22:52.24
wearabletakeover
Wow.

22:58.65
wearabletakeover
Wow.

23:03.36
Erin
Count a little bit longer I think they didn't figure out I would deathaf until I was like eighteen months because I still had dumb de of be able to hear but when they figure it out. They putting much put both of us in a special life school. We both got fit in for hearing. We they learned thling with the whole family la th with my um, both me and my older sister had speech therapy I had peace therapy all the way until tenth grade.

23:35.98
wearabletakeover
Here.

23:38.19
Erin
So that was like long duration of peace therapy I don't feel like I really had any moment of like oh I'm definitely. It would not even a thing when I was like a little kid it would until I got to middle school. Just. When I my parents decided to give me an option. They said you can stay at the death school or you can go to a public school within a interpreter and all that so I would like I don't know wait. I did half day half days at the death court half day. The public school. Well I actually ended up getting bullied by a couple other de kid because I was too hidden for I could talk I could beat and all that it was awful. So I know.

24:31.41
wearabletakeover
Oh.

24:36.98
Erin
I end up leaving your death school I'm going to Public. The only Decade kid in my entire school I had an interpreter that's when I was like oh my God I am different by it. And basically just like we treated in my shell and did not like the deaf community until probably I went to college. Yeah.

24:55.28
wearabletakeover
Oh my. Wait a minute So What does that look like being bullied by fellow Deaf students. What? what?? what type of things happened.

25:06.27
Erin
They they just like picked on me make fun of me I got accused of dealing stuff it. It was not good I mean not good and they I wantic thing One of my closest friend now.

25:15.45
wearabletakeover
Ah, that is awful.

25:21.60
Erin
She would also bully by the sameme girl in high school and we both figured it out. We were like ah wish we could punch that girl.

25:24.90
wearabletakeover
The.

25:35.20
wearabletakeover
Ah, ah oh my gosh. So so.

25:36.90
Erin
If not I don't feel like the deaf community is as much like this now I feel like there's a lot more stuckton add to what level of deafness you are like I feel like I finally own my depth identity.

25:48.24
wearabletakeover
Okay.

25:54.50
Erin
Now death blind identity when I was what 39 years old and that was only four years ago

26:02.47
wearabletakeover
Okay, this this is good. This is good So there's levels to deafness based off of what you just Said. So Can you walk us through what are those levels because I think it's important for everyone. That's listening or watching or reading a transcript that they understand this that there's not just one. Category of Death. There's levels of deafness and then we're going to go into the deafblind situation.

26:23.28
Erin
But so I met um Anna who from poor spec like five years ago and we actually had a lot of pillow.

26:31.61
wearabletakeover
Yes, yes.

26:38.43
Erin
Because she is like a black woman and I'm a deaf woman and told the light parallel but the only the major different inhood being black individual being deaf not though like we completely recognize that I though I definitely had an advantage and could.

26:50.54
wearabletakeover
And.

26:58.26
Erin
I could like hide my Dis stability so being du the kind I don't want to say the different level but like you know there are duck people that cannot hear at all and we're hearing a they can't be there.

26:59.48
wearabletakeover
Here here.

27:15.10
Erin
They do American signling or you are around the world. They have the country time Asl is not a global planning with just ah, you know then the.

27:24.53
wearabletakeover
Oh wait a minute wait a minute pause right? there pause right there. So I think that's important for folks because especially as they are developing because we work with startups around the world. So american sign language otherwise known as asl is not a standard ah except within a Usa but then also.

27:37.28
Erin
Um, yeah.

27:41.59
wearabletakeover
I know I was at an event with Mcdonald's and they sponsored our youth for oh what was it? Ah you know the the hbcu basketball fest that comes here now CC doublea excuse me Mcdonald Sponsored our youth for Cla two years ago.

27:46.62
Erin
Um, yeah.

27:49.59
Erin
Dead.

27:57.49
wearabletakeover
And we were hearing about the new sign language that was created Um, it was like it. Oh I don't want to say hip hop sign language but basically a Urban um category of sign language in that and is it black Asl Okay, and I thought they had a different terminology point.

28:06.18
Erin
Black a fell black if style. Yes I is still is not new but I had never heard about it. But yeah, still to me the thing.

28:16.24
wearabletakeover
Okay, yeah, so that way you have like the slaying and everything in there right.

28:24.61
Erin
Yeah, we have to understand and finally with especially american and fine lu the actually different time across the country though like my old sister lived in California and chose tell me a th I'm like what that make no time.

28:36.96
wearabletakeover
Oh.

28:40.24
Erin
But that though it different though there are like dialects or acting across the world with ah in the United States with dinling so than that. But then the other country that has their own time Australia Australia then British Styleling you know every country hides their own time language but weirdly enough were actually able to communicate with each other pretty well pi yeah.

28:58.10
wearabletakeover
Wam.

29:05.70
wearabletakeover
Okay, okay, this is good to know so far startups if you have a product that you may be launching in one country and especially as you prepare to launch it in another country. This is why you need to have that membership was successful because eron and her team will vet this for you.

29:20.97
Erin
Yeah.

29:22.70
wearabletakeover
To make sure that you are successful and I and I just learned something new today as you referred to it as dialecs I I never really knew that that there were different sign language standards around the world. So that's very interesting. So let's say this what if someone were aiming to learn sign language today like.

29:32.85
Erin
Gay.

29:41.82
wearabletakeover
Where should they go? How would you direct them and you know I love sign language when I was younger my uncle um he's deceased now but he taught me a couple of words in the alphabet and sign language and he also taught me how to play chess and even though I was a little girl I still carry those things with me today. Those were some of the most important lessons I've ever had. So.

29:56.73
Erin
Yeah.

30:01.74
wearabletakeover
I'm encouraging those that are listening to learn something I know a lot of times people may be promoting like the duolingual apps or whatnot but Aaron where where can they go to start learning.

30:12.91
Erin
So you always want to learn from a deaf person. Do not learn thin language from a hearing person that is like you will get trash ah not by me by me but there are a lot of people there.

30:23.32
wearabletakeover
Oh wow.

30:29.61
Erin
They track them because your learning American Bilingual is not just about learning a time. It's also about learning depth culture and that's the thing and really goes handin hand and in standing. So the thing with St Language is.

30:38.52
wearabletakeover
A.

30:48.37
Erin
You want a thy name it has to come from a duck person by a heing person can't just give you a thy name a duck person had to give you a thy name. So with little things like that like the new octas within it though I really empathize always learn from a duck person.

30:51.22
wearabletakeover
A.

30:58.56
wearabletakeover
Wow.

31:08.35
Erin
If you want to learn thinling with I have a whole list of different people. You can learn from.

31:12.60
wearabletakeover
So I love it. Another reason why you need to contact Erin because there's different levels as you as you said earlier in the deaf community and so there are some that have some ear. Some folks have some hearing and there are folks that have absolutely no hearing and some in between.

31:17.83
Erin
And hey.

31:27.28
Erin
Yeah, yeah.

31:30.44
wearabletakeover
And of course the devices hearing Aids folks and I have on my airpis but hearing aids. It's a verbable tech device.

31:34.55
Erin
Yeah, we have hearing we have Cole I have both I have a hearing aid and a cochlear implant I'm not a fan of my cochlear implant I can't I eat it don more but it helped me here because but the thing is I'm still deaf but I takes them off.

31:45.55
wearabletakeover
Okay.

31:52.67
wearabletakeover
And.

31:52.97
Erin
I Can't hear don't I often will go out in public without anything on because you know what the wolf freaking loud loud. But oh my God It's so loud. No.

32:02.48
wearabletakeover
So ah, you said give me some quiet please. Ah.

32:11.80
Erin
I'm done.

32:13.72
wearabletakeover
Ah I love it I love it. Okay, so when did you start using assistive technology from I mean because I know like we're a little older so you know computers came you know we had Oregon trail but then as far as like us really being mandated to use it that was like in high school right? like maybe even college like.

32:22.22
Erin
Yeah, what? oh.

32:31.60
wearabletakeover
But what's it's crazy to think about it. So when did you use your first um, assistive technology like from a computer perspective.

32:41.69
Erin
I mean oh my parents who are ahead of the trend. So when they built the house in 9090 they make sure they were like built in life on the wall.

32:47.64
wearabletakeover
Okay, so.

33:00.14
Erin
That if the doorbe rang it would flash. They built that into the house a ninety ninety they were way ahead of technology and it and this is like something that really befuddled me put I bought my house in.

33:01.22
wearabletakeover
Oh really. Wow.

33:17.88
Erin
19 thank god right before the pandemic and while talking to the alarm system I was like there are thing that want to happen. Oh we can't make it happen I'm like what you mean you can't make it happen. My parents had this technology in 1990 where you mean you don't have this.

33:19.20
wearabletakeover
Who.

33:37.59
Erin
All is still annoying like so we had to like hack something though like the light above me if the door barring like turn on and off of which justpi but I and then I was probably 19 when I first got like my littlelip.

33:39.11
wearabletakeover
Um, oh my gosh.

33:56.35
Erin
Thing pager thing. Yeah yeah, that like but this one had like a full keyboard on it so we could like type I would 19 when I got that? um.

33:59.42
wearabletakeover
Okay, oh your pager I remember a pager. Yeah I had that too. Ah.

34:13.74
Erin
I feel like Apple watch is truly truly one of my biggest wearable tech for me and yeah because it alerts me to like everything I know when he long goes off I like you know that like they did like 1 of my most.

34:19.52
wearabletakeover
Um, okay, very very cool I Love it.

34:31.21
Erin
Like if I didn't have it I'd feel lost.

34:31.71
wearabletakeover
Oh wow wow! That's that's interesting and so there's an app that actually there's a device and an app that was created by 1 of our other wearable startups called wearworks and they actually created the theme song that we're using for this month and for the rest of the year

34:41.25
Erin
And.

34:48.19
Erin
Night.

34:50.50
wearabletakeover
But they're a haptic company and their claim to fame was when they developed this device that helped a blind man run the boston marathon unassisted and so since then they've developed another lane of that physical product hardware into total software. So anyone can download that app today. You know to be assistant. So of course I'm going to bring it over to Aaron and say all right Aaron test it out based off of what where works has it has downloaded um and they've they've done extensive testing as well. But just for you folks that are in our ecosystem these are things I'm going to be saying like we're going to have to have you know Aaron test this.

35:14.20
Erin
I.

35:27.38
wearabletakeover
Um, okay so we talked about the the being deaf now let's talk about being deaf blind. You know that experience and and when were you declared at what age approximately were you declare it blind. Wow.

35:37.50
Erin
So when I was 20 I My parent had gone to do leg just surgery and they I will pay for you to get later surgery I had contact I have one contract most of my high school. Food life and I have like really thick laughter at the kid like I literally could not do the alarm clock when I woke up it an all blue like I was blinded back. But it's cool if I say no one else can take.

35:59.27
wearabletakeover
Next.

36:08.81
wearabletakeover
Wow.

36:15.13
Erin
Um, don't they all right? Sure let me do that and the adopt was like you want watch it to like that's okay, just get me schedule then they said know what somethinging wrong. We need you ghostie another special it do I go see the special it and at that time.

36:27.87
wearabletakeover
And.

36:33.40
Erin
My mom with with my oldest sister that she just had my her first baby. My first nephew of the family and my youngest sister stood in the office with me. We do all these text and we just like sitting there and joking around. Doctor comeed in and he's like yeah you have ushers syndrome that to the name of the condition I have you'll be blinded right here. What were left the office completely done.

36:55.45
wearabletakeover
Oh my gosh.

37:05.26
Erin
What is going on devastated I'm like about to graduate college in a year like I drafted design Manger What am I gonna do worth year in my life and like honestly when I found out like I.

37:17.40
wearabletakeover
Oh my.

37:23.87
Erin
Did want to kill myself that way. Oh am I gonna live my leg blind like I already don't have hearing like you're just gonna throw that on top of me I still put proceedated with the latest surgery because the way the doctor explain it was. It's like a camera you can fit.

37:26.45
wearabletakeover
And.

37:42.90
Erin
The line You can't fit the body and that like the body of my art. My eye is the body that is not able to be fit so we put up so by made it through I'm not flying at.

37:43.95
wearabletakeover
Who.

38:00.79
Erin
Like twenty three years later I'm really dating myself kids I I'm not even 43 yeah I turn 43 and two weeks and I'm only stay I'm 43 what's wrong with me but like I'm 43 42 going on'm 43

38:12.84
wearabletakeover
Ah.

38:19.75
Erin
And I'm not blind yet I have about fifty degree vision but the pandemic would when I finally accepted that I would deck bond because it made me realize that black in the spectrum.

38:31.92
wearabletakeover
Um, heads.

38:36.23
wearabletakeover
A.

38:39.23
Erin
I Think that was like something that was really important for me to learn because art had always been dead that age of spectrum but they never said that about any other disability will you like definite in the spectrum blind it in the spectrum you are still.

38:50.67
wearabletakeover
Wow.

38:58.99
Erin
1 and we thing no matter how much you can hear or how much you can tea or all of that you have done timeulant of being blind does.

39:12.87
wearabletakeover
That is so interesting I Just and I just learned something in where you said that about the spectrum. That's so interesting. Um, a good nugget right there so help us understand what does it mean to be legally blind. And how does that differ from from your current state.

39:31.12
Erin
So legally blind a pery virgin right? That's the only thing I know a twenty degree or like vision though. That's probably like a more dople that in front of you that you can do.

39:41.90
wearabletakeover
Okay, so.

39:50.22
Erin
I have about fifty degree I'd be good at that day right? there.

39:55.88
wearabletakeover
Okay, okay, that's good to know. Thank you for that. Um I'm think as you're talking about this I'm thinking about back in the day. The Ray Charles movie that Jamie Fox was in and you know he was a kid and you could see how things were changing. Um, that's just it's just ah it's just an interesting perspective and ah and an experience that is incredibly emotional. How can we as a community be more empathetic. Um to folks that may be deaf blind or a combo of the 2.

40:25.67
Erin
This one is dumping that I really struggle with because like right now I'm trying to figure out how I can get myself over to again to learn protactile. With a ah, a born of Thyine with which is using your hand and then also you do a lot of touching which I'm not quite comfortable with but like 1 of the interesting thing is like my sister that that 1 thing they teach it i.

40:49.87
wearabletakeover
Um, guess.

40:58.17
Erin
When you have somebody with you. They say good morning by like putting your hand on you The the Putton check and like moving it in an art outward and then to take good night. You would move it from the Alti in art to go do with like more hand on.

41:16.90
wearabletakeover
Um, on row.

41:17.10
Erin
Feeling they good morning good night and then um, you know the person that with you will also use like hand motion to tell you. You can only see that muchlight for me when I'm with people I have to like stand like a certain distant. What though that I can d like everything like I can't I need to have the interpreter but for me sometimes it's hard because I'm looking at the interpreter but I can't quite see the push and Danny right next to them. So with all, that's why I have to like back up and then people like but I can't hear you and I'm like I know it's it's problematic is like if I asked you to repeat something repeat it if I like you know, just day.

42:01.98
wearabletakeover
Be here.

42:09.21
Erin
Simple things like can you write down what you were saying I can't understand you don't lean in my ear and with but not gonna understand you. It's just like little thing that can help me make feel comfortable like for me, it's also a new fate I have to a adjust.

42:15.96
wearabletakeover
Is.

42:29.10
Erin
A lot when I enter a new Bay and you get acquainted by I actually have this big annoying with that. Yeah though, a lot of restaurant tiny restaurant like to make the hallway to the bathroom dot a.

42:37.41
wearabletakeover
With bathrooms.

42:45.55
wearabletakeover
Yes.

42:48.67
Erin
Ah, dungja in there and then I'm right I I can barely see hopefully I go in invite bathroom. Um, although they should all just beach under Neutral fight building thing. Yeah.

42:57.86
wearabletakeover
That's a good note. That's a really good note you don't make the bathrooms or the hallways. So dark. Thank you for that. That's that's eye opening right? there like what are you doing with the design of a physical space. And why is it so dark because you're right there especially here in Baltimore, there's a lot of amazing hotels and restaurants and bars. But a lot of them do have dark hallways. They really do.

43:25.30
Erin
Yeah, say Ah, even if you just put like lighting ah down toward the floor that's like helpful had lighting highlighting what door you're entering that kind of thing make it more clear I always have to like ask where the bathroom in and invite. This way and I'm like hi I'll figure it out to if I'm but the why you lose my vision. The more. Um why? Okay I hope I can find it.

43:45.49
wearabletakeover
Um.

43:53.19
wearabletakeover
That's that's really helpful so signage and and what should that signage look like what? what do you recommend from a signage perspective.

43:54.45
Erin
And that.

43:59.73
Erin
I think it's like you know it. It's interesting because I think a lot of people are trying to do di tiny to be cuttle and more like though that it goes with the environment. But I think. That you do need to put more timing up and or even temple I if you are standing down in a v the waiter or the way to should be like hey just so you know the baroom in this way, do that. You can start off like helping making sure people are aware of their surrounding where they're going just like little thing that just makes the experience better like pointing out where the bathroom dog though that you're not awkwardly trying to find it. And then making sure that you know what way to go like the 1 place I went to I do not understand it. The bathroom is only on a second floor like why like you should have done bathroom on both 4 like now. Yeah.

45:01.39
wearabletakeover
Oh yeah, that's bad. Yeah, and especially if they say oh we only have steps I'm like this shouldn't be Ada compliant because you need to have a way for people to get up and down and even though you know one of the things I noticed is the weight of doors.

45:13.82
Erin
Yeah, yeah.

45:23.13
Erin
Yeah, yeah.

45:24.70
wearabletakeover
And this was after I had had surgery and it was impacting my abdomen and I was like why are these doors So heavy right? And so a lot of people I think they just forget that they they don't really understand that even that simple ah thing is a barrier.

45:28.63
Erin
You.

45:39.97
Erin
Yeah, you have to like push and then imagine you having to pull open if it's already heavy pushing how it how have you they gonna be pulling. Yeah.

45:41.18
wearabletakeover
Is a barrier and barrier to entry right.

45:46.95
wearabletakeover
A.

45:53.97
wearabletakeover
Absolutely so let me ask you 1 other thing related to restaurants right? because during that pandemic a lot of restaurants once they reopened got rid of their paper menus unless someone asked for it and even then a lot of waiters and waitresses didn't want to give a paper menu I'll never forget a time. I witnessed ah a senior citizen woman. Um, really get frustrated because she kept asking for a paper menu and they kept saying oh use your phone and she's like no I want a paper menu and they literally had her wait for 30 minutes for the menu alone I watched this so so in your opinion.

46:18.88
Erin
5

46:26.68
Erin
Wow.

46:32.43
wearabletakeover
Um, you know is the Qr code menu effective. What are some things that maybe you would advocate for in changing menus.

46:40.72
Erin
So the Qr code actually can be considered adaptable, but it depend whether it leads to an acceptable Pdf or website and.

46:45.80
wearabletakeover
Okay.

46:57.12
Erin
I'm gonna say 90% of but restaurant or 1 of the highest company get gets 2 for not being ada a compliant and if you click because the website when a menu is not acceptable and that the.

47:04.26
wearabletakeover
A.

47:09.68
wearabletakeover
Wow.

47:15.54
Erin
That's problematic because I understand they you the pdf to be acceptable, but the Pdf is not acceptable because they haven't like gone through that and it actuallys there's certain thing that you need to do to make sure that it can be read by the screen reader though I think. Having both octane is really good having the paper option for some people who just read better because you know we've all been on the our phone and menu you gotta like. Will do men and go around That's the word to pay though. That's the thing. That's what I need to think about what is like for them to go like they everybody in that who was put that restaurant need to go and look at what that experience is like. On your phone could I don't think any of them really do that.

48:13.81
wearabletakeover
You know what? that's so interesting. 1 of the things that um I teach and consultant on outside of this is on design thinking and I do this with one of our advisors and it helps businesses and individuals prompt. That thinking of what is it like for the user oftentimes people design things without the user in mind they think oh this is great I'm just going to run with it. No and so that's one of our core pillars here at Webo Techch ventures in our ecosystem. Um, so we're doing good work folks and we have good people here with us like aarin. And it's so exciting to to work with you Aaron to not only you know, discuss your platform successful which is awesome and well I'll get to mable q in a second that make sure people get your awesome newsletter because it's amazing folks but to make history in in driving change and so I'm honored. To work with you in that capacity to drive change and I'm hoping we can see an increase in the number of people that number of people and businesses that are becoming more empathetic and integrating your suggestions earlier. Versus later and so startups this is something I hope you listen to this episode watch this episode over and over and over and over again because who are you designing for and even though you may have a specific target market.

49:26.46
Erin
Um, any.

49:41.77
wearabletakeover
There could be a secondary and a tertiary market. Of course we don't ask you to pitch all that in your pitchticck but we want to make sure that you are addressing people that are going to use your product and make sure that they have a wonderful experience and so Erin is going to have office hours during the hackathon. So. Um, we'll have that on the schedule so you could check that out but tell us a little bit about maybe q and what your newsletter is I think it's so awesome because I want folks to subscribe to your newsletter as well.

50:13.80
Erin
So maybe like you basically I can be at your company your group. Whatever you do? Um I can also do an effectibility audit like it can focus on 1 thing day you're like look I just want to focus on my social media. We can do that or your podcast or if you want to really audit your whole business. We can also do that as well. But a different way that we can really build out your audit that custom and then of course um, have me do ah what shot. And then finally ofto joined to textable I think test testable. It's like the eiest effectiveive way to really just make sure your bit it is de detectible and finally um, follow me on social media on Instagram at maybely on theco queue. And I think that I you can subscribe get a free torture media. Go card for me which I think is actually really awesome and it will help you audit your own social media.

51:16.65
wearabletakeover
Um, nice. Awesome I love it folks listen you need to at least take 1 action. Um with Aaron. Within the next week at least one I'm challenging you to at least take 1 um and ain is a part of your team right? And for for her small fee like it's an investment for that small investment that's worth it to make sure that you thrive in your business. So Aaron I'm so honored that you spent time with us. Today that you will continue to spend time with us this month and and especially, you're celebrating your birthday I'm big on birthdays I'm so excited about your birthday that's coming up so I'm I'm just gonna ask you I know right? Birthday Queen. So so if you could share 1.

51:59.64
Erin
I am too.

52:08.49
wearabletakeover
1 other tip a quote or something with our community before we sign off why don't you go ahead and share that with us.

52:15.67
Erin
1 of my favorite quote is that you have to be being disabled in the 1 thing you're not born with you can be disabled at any time and place. Ah any age though if you. So mind fight for disability just to to often be your fight so we will all meet the stable one day.

52:40.78
wearabletakeover
We need each other we need each other folks so make sure you are following eron at mable q make sure you sign up for her newsletter and then I also want to challenge you even if you may not be a startup founder. I encourage you to invest in another startup founder. Especially as we go into the end of the year people have some funds go ahead and buy that subscription and of course share leave leave us comments on this episode because we were named at the beginning of the year as one of the world tech podcasts to watch.

53:06.32
Erin
Yeah, yeah.

53:14.75
Erin
Night.

53:15.10
wearabletakeover
We were named as one of the top podcasts in our industry and so we say we're small and mighty. But we're packed with a lot of power and ah in in our little punch here. So make sure you share make sure you leave comments. It is so important because we are really laying out the blueprint for what tech should.

53:31.76
Erin
Of it.

53:34.73
wearabletakeover
B So thank you so much folks and we'll see you at Tech remixed.