Inclusive AI Incorporated: How Corporate America Makes AI for Deaf People

Corporate AI choices already decide who can use a product, keep a job, or get through a customer-support funnel. On February 22, 2027, we ask what it takes for companies to move past accessibility statements and build with Deaf people as decision-makers, users, and beneficiaries.

One feature or one compliance review won’t get you there. Inclusion lives in incentives, governance, research practice, product requirements, and the honesty to measure who is left out. The choices on the table can either recycle familiar barriers—or set a better model for how AI gets made.

Built for executives, product and engineering leaders, accessibility teams, HR and procurement, investors, and Deaf professionals in tech.

• Where corporate AI still fails Deaf people
• Deaf participation in discovery, data, testing, and product governance
• Procurement, requirements, and real accountability
• Hard questions for leaders who own AI portfolios

Speakers*

• Neil Barnett — Chief Accessibility Officer, Microsoft. Leads Microsoft accessibility after scaling the Neurodiversity Program and Disability Answer Desk; a strong corporate lens on accessible AI products and support.
• Laura Allen — Director, Products for All, Google. Leads centralized accessibility, internationalization, and universal product development, with direct responsibility for inclusive product practice.
• Sarah Herrlinger — Senior Director, Global Accessibility Policy & Initiatives, Apple. Apple accessibility executive publicly discussing AI/ML-powered accessibility features, policy, and design with the disability community.
• Kiran Kaja — Principal Product Manager, Worldwide Stores Accessibility, Amazon. Works on AI-assisted accessibility expertise in the software lifecycle and accessible commerce at Amazon scale.
• Maxine Williams — Vice President, Accessibility and Engagement, Meta. Her people/product/policy mandate covers inclusive AI wearables, product co-design, and disability-community engagement.
• Will Scott, Ph.D. — Head of AI Technology, Carbon Design System, IBM; former Head of Accessibility Technology & Innovation. Connects generative/agentic AI, design systems, enterprise accessibility tooling, and responsible product development.
• Catherine Nichols — Chief Accessibility Officer, Salesforce. Leads Salesforce accessibility strategy and Abilityforce, including accessibility in AI development and product governance.
• Leslie Gordon — Vice President, Office of Accessibility, Cisco. Leads Cisco’s effort to embed digital accessibility across products, procurement, business processes, and employee experience.
• Fred Moltz — Chief Accessibility Officer, Verizon. Built Verizon’s accessibility program and Accessibility Technology and Innovation Lab around accessibility-by-design for employees and customers.
• Bryan W. Gill — Global Head, Office of Disability Inclusion and Global Head of Neurodiversity, JPMorgan Chase. Can speak to disability inclusion, accessible financial services, CART, neurodivergent talent, and enterprise implementation.

TBC

Register below — seats are limited.