Speaking and podcasting

Organizations bring me in when they want to improve how people work, communicate, and include each other.

My talks focus on accessibility, disability inclusion, and the everyday behaviors that shape culture. I combine lived experience and operational expertise to give teams practical steps they can use right away.

My sessions educate, engage, and encourage action without slowing teams down. Read my bio.

My sessions help organizations:

  • Move from overthinking to action
  • Reduce communication friction
  • Build confidence around disability conversations
  • Make accessibility part of everyday work

I take a limited number of speaking engagements each month.

Available for in-person and virtual events. If you’d like to bring me to your company or event, please reach out.

Popular topics

How accessibility and inclusion shape organizational culture

Most teams want to be inclusive but don’t know where to start. This session shows how everyday decisions shape whether people feel included or left out. We look at communication habits, meeting norms, tools, and workflows. Then we turn those into practical steps teams can use right away to reduce friction and make inclusion part of how they work.

Key takeaways:

  • Inclusion comes from daily behaviors
  • Small changes reduce friction fast
  • Clear, repeatable actions teams can use right away

Accessible communication for teams, customers, and communities

Communication breaks down when people assume everyone processes information the same way. I show teams how to communicate so more people can participate — without slowing anyone down. This session covers meetings, presentations, digital content, and everyday interactions.

Key takeaways:

  • Reduce communication friction across teams
  • Make content, meetings, and collaboration more accessible
  • Improve clarity for everyone

Disability inclusion without fear, overthinking, or assumptions

Many people want to “get it right” but worry about saying or doing the wrong thing. This session removes the fear. I explain what helps, what doesn’t, and how to build confidence around disability conversations using real examples from my lived experience as someone born profoundly deaf.

Key takeaways:

  • Replace hesitation with confident, respectful action
  • Avoid assumptions that create barriers
  • Support disabled colleagues without overthinking

Beyond compliance: Accessibility as a business advantage

Accessibility isn’t just a requirement. It’s a competitive edge. This session shows leaders, product teams, and communicators how accessibility improves customer experience, reduces risk, and strengthens brand trust. I focus on operational steps teams can take to integrate accessibility into everyday work.

Key takeaways:

  • Improve products, services, and customer experience
  • Operationalize accessibility without slowing teams down
  • Build accessibility into processes and decisions

Between worlds: What my deaf experience reveals about access and belonging

I was born profoundly deaf, learned to speak and lipread, and navigate a world not built for how I communicate. This keynote gives audiences a clear, honest look at what it’s like to fill in blanks every day and what it teaches us about communication, assumptions, and belonging.

Key takeaways:

  • Deaf and disabled experiences are not all the same
  • Access is about information, not volume
  • Small communication shifts create real inclusion

Past talks

I’ve delivered more than 100 talks since 2019 for companies, conferences, ERGs, nonprofits, universities, and global events.

Selected highlights

  • Google Accessibility and Disability Inclusion Week
  • Baker Library at Harvard Business School
  • SXSW
  • TEDx
  • Workday

2026 talks

Corporate keynotes, conferences, and national organizations.

  • March 2026: Numerator
  • March 2026: Quirks conference
  • January 2026: NCL

2025 talks

Major keynotes, conferences, ERGs, and national nonprofits.

  • October 2025: Coupa keynote
  • October 2025: IMEX conference in Las Vegas
  • October 2025: Portland General
  • September 2025: North Texas Disability Chamber awards presenter
  • July 2025: Seismic keynote
  • July 2025: The Not Forgotten First community town hall panel
  • June 2025: TAMIO Keynote
  • May 2025: Red Cross keynote
  • April 2025: Panel moderator at North Texas Disability Chamber Issues Forum
  • March 2025: Westchester County Tourism and Film
  • February 2025 to April 2025: Host of International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP) Webinars
  • February 2025: Emcee at North Texas Disability Chamber Annual Meeting

2024 talks

Global organizations, universities, conferences, and accessibility events.

  • December 2024: Baker Library at Harvard Business School
  • November 2024: Guy Carpenter in New York City
  • October 2024: Google Accessibility and Disability Inclusion Week
  • October 2024: Plano ISD Regional Day School for the Deaf Panel
  • October 2024: Neurodiversity Works panel at McKinney Inclusion Council in McKinney, Texas
  • October 2024: CreativePro: Design + Accessibility Summit
  • September 2024: City of Plano
  • September 2024: World Health Organization (WHO) Commission on Social Connections
  • September 2024: Intopia Inclusive Marketing Webinar
  • September 2024: Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO)
  • August 2024: Web Accessibility in Mind Conference
  • July 2024: Kansas State University
  • June 2024: Environment for the Americas Internship Program
  • June 2024: XR Access Symposium Panelist
  • June 2024: NTXDC Disability-led DEIA Summit
  • May 2024: John Slatin AccessU Keynote
  • April 2024: University of Pittsburgh Accessibility Training Partners Program
  • April 2024: Southern Methodist University
  • March 2024: The University of Texas at Austin
  • February 2024: North Texas Disability Chamber Annual Meeting Emcee
  • February 2024: Kentucky Community and Technical College System
  • January 2024: American Marketing Association Virtual Conference

2023 talks

Corporate events, conferences, ERGs, and community events.

  • December 2023: Plano Chamber of Commerce Leadership Plano Ensuring Different Voices in the Workplace panel
  • November 2023: Algoma University
  • November 2023: ATD Intensive
  • September 2023: North Texas Disability Chamber Awards
  • September 2023: D CEO Magazine DEI Symposium
  • August 2023: Yes, I Can (YIC)
  • July 2023: APSE MO conference
  • July 2023: Edrington
  • May 2023: Pearson
  • May 2023: Workday
  • May 2023: North Texas Disability Chamber GAAD
  • May 2023: John Slatin AccessU
  • April 2023: A11y Conference
  • April 2023: Riot Games
  • April 2023: City of Plano
  • April 2023: Square Cash App
  • March 2023: SXSW
  • March 2023: LinkedIn Rocks Conference
  • February 2023: City of Plano
  • January 2023: Junior League of Collin County in Plano, TX
  • January 2023: A11yNYC at 3 World Trade Center in New York City
  • January 2023: GatherVerse S.H.E. Summit

2022 talks

High‑profile conferences, tech companies, and accessibility summits.

  • November 2022: Austin Startup Week in Austin, TX
  • November 2022: A11y Camp
  • October 2022: Progressive
  • October 2022: Disability and Philanthropy Forum
  • September 2022: FoundedInFoCo
  • September 2022: Jackson
  • August 2022: Canada’s Better Buildings Boot Camp (#BBBC)
  • July 2022: WP Engine LinkedIn
  • July 2022: Flatiron Health
  • July 2022: Gallaudet University Information Technology program
  • June 2022: XR Access Symposium
  • June 2022: AWE USA
  • May 2022: Bay Area Accessibility and Inclusive Design with Jennison Asuncion
  • May 19, 2022: PwC
  • May 19, 2022: North Texas Disability Chamber Fireside
  • May 11, 2022: EGA Access Services Summit
  • May 4, 2022: ETS
  • May 10, 2022: John Slatin AccessU in Austin, Texas
  • April 23, 2022: TEDx Talk at TEDxPlano
  • March 16, 2022: Axe-con Accessibility Conference
  • February 2022: Fable
  • January 11, 2022: PCMA Convening Leaders Conference in Las Vegas

2021 talks

Conferences, meetups, ERGs, and accessibility events.

  • December 2021: Chris Bogue and Viktor Köves
  • December 2021: Diamond 2021 State of Accessibility Report
  • December 2021: Curiosity Tank
  • December 2021: WordPress Accessibility Meetup Group
  • December 2021: National Ability Summit
  • November 2021: A11yTalks
  • November 2021: XR Association Limitless Future Conference
  • October 2021: MITRE NDEAM Accessibility Technical Exchange Meeting
  • October 2021: A11yTO Conf
  • October 2021: AccessibilityPlus with Gavin Neate, Andrew Houghton, and Andrea Mocellin
  • September 2021: Content Marketing World
  • September 2021: #ID24
  • July 2021: Southern Methodist University Accessibility in User Experience
  • July 2021: WordCamp Santa Clarita Valley
  • July 2021: A11yNYC
  • May 2021: Accessibility Camp Bay
  • May 2021: John Slatin AccessU (two classes)
  • May 2021: UW Husky Hackathon
  • April 2021: TechAccess Oklahoma
  • March 2021: Why and How to Create Accessible Social Media and Website Content at Bay Area Disability Inclusion Network
  • March 2021: Mimi
  • February 2021: A11yATX

2020 talks

Virtual conferences and accessibility events.

  • October 2020: Equal Entry
  • October 2020: WordCamp Los Angeles
  • October 2020: WordPress Accessibility Day
  • July 2020: WordPress San Fernando Valley Meetup
  • May 2020: John Slatin AccessU
  • May 2020: A. Miroe

Podcasts and lives

I’ve been featured on 30+ podcasts discussing accessibility, communication, and disability inclusion.

For speaking availability, contact info@meryl.net.