• S106: Advocacy and Technology: Code, Courage, and Creating Accessibility

  • Apr 8 2025
  • Length: 50 mins
  • Podcast

S106: Advocacy and Technology: Code, Courage, and Creating Accessibility

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  • Summary

  • In this inspiring episode of Navigating Life with Vision Loss, Kim Wardlow sits down with Zach Tidwell, a Marine Corps veteran turned accessibility advocate and self-taught software developer. After losing his vision due to a traumatic brain injury, Zach found himself navigating inaccessible educational systems and daily tools. Instead of settling for frustration, he became the solution—learning to code, developing award-winning apps like Xanagrams, and advocating for inclusive technology design.
    Zach shares his powerful journey, from grappling with depression to creating tech solutions that are accessible to all. He dives into the realities of software development, the barriers within big tech companies, and the potential for AI and machine learning to help or hinder accessibility. Whether you’re tech-savvy, tech-averse, or somewhere in between, this conversation is a must-listen on how to be an advocate, innovator, or even just a helpful tester in the ever-evolving world of accessible technology.

    Contact Information:
    Zach Tidwell Website: www.zachtidwell.net
    Podcast: Going in Blind with Zach Tidwell – Available on all major platforms
    Aftersight: www.aftersight.org | (720) 712-8856
    Email for Questions or Feedback: feedback@aftersight.org

    Chapter Markers:
    00:00 – Intro to the episode and advocacy series
    01:00 – Kim introduces Zach Tidwell and today’s topic
    02:22 – Zach’s military background and life-changing injury
    04:41 – Rebuilding life and finding purpose in tech
    07:04 – Inaccessible education and turning frustration into coding
    09:27 – Becoming part of the solution and coding as advocacy
    11:22 – Creating apps for everyone, from blindness to broader usability
    13:32 – How Zach taught himself to code and found accessible resources
    15:59 – Accessibility as a design choice, not an obstacle
    18:23 – Comparing Zach’s apps with mainstream tools like Echo
    20:32 – Missing the mark: When apps are only built for blind users
    22:40 – Why big companies often miss accessibility standards
    24:52 – Code frameworks: Apple’s Swift vs. Meta’s React Native
    27:06 – Systemic change through design choices
    29:29 – A sneak peek at Zach’s new educational app
    30:45 – AI and machine learning: Challenges and opportunities
    32:48 – Encouragement for tech-averse users to start learning
    34:57 – Zach’s personal testimony on technology’s life-changing power
    37:22 – How to report accessibility issues to developers
    40:32 – Group advocacy vs. individual advocacy
    41:39 – Resources for learning to code and getting started
    43:52 – Final advice and encouragement from Zach
    46:11 – Zach’s podcast and how to connect with him
    48:14 – Closing remarks and where to hear more of Zach’s story
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