In Episode 109, Sunday Parker, Access Technology Program Manager at Microsoft, joins Melinda in a conversation about everyone’s role in creating accessible and inclusive communities for people with disabilities. Sunday describes what physical and digital accessibility look like and the importance of continuing to incorporate digital accessibility into social media platforms, particularly as they evolve and change. She shares the value of interdependence in communities and how allies can amplify the voices of disability advocates. She also talks about her work in providing non-profits with the resources they need to better support their disability constituents.
About Sunday Parker (she/her)
Sunday leads the Access Technology Program as part of Microsoft’s commitment to bridge the disability divide through access to technology and connectivity that is accessible to people with disabilities. As part of the Strategic Partnership and Policy team, she aims to create connections between the disability community and accessible technology through collaboration with organizations and the Microsoft ecosystem. Recently, she launched the Accessibility Nonprofit Tech Accelerator, aimed to support disability nonprofits with access to resources, grants, and software to accelerate their mission.
Diagnosed with a rare neurological disease at the age of 2, she has had a lifelong journey of advocacy and applies her lived experience navigating the world as a wheelchair user to better support the disability community as a whole and the organizations that serve them. With access to technology, she excelled in her career in tech over the last 9 years as she found that the advancement opportunities at work didn’t carry the same complex barriers that she experienced in the day-to-day physical environment. This realization led to a passion for digital accessibility and enabling more people with disabilities, including those who use assistive technology, access to hardware and software along with the workplace and social advancement opportunities that technology creates.
She is a new resident living in downtown Austin, Texas with her dog Charlie and many plants where she hopes to continue to advocate locally in her community on accessibility.
For more about Empovia, visit https://ally.cc. There, you’ll also find educational resources and highlights from this episode.
Connect With Sunday On Social
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sundayparker/
Twitter: twitter.com/sundaytakesbart
Instagram: instagram.com/sundayparker/
Connect With Us On Social
YouTube: youtube.com/@empovia
Twitter: twitter.com/empoviaco
Facebook: facebook.com/empovia
Instagram: instagram.com/empovia/
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/empovia/
Production Team
Creator & Host: Melinda Briana Epler
Co-Producers: Renzo Santos & Christina Swindlehurst Chan
Podcast Rocket: Rob Scheerbarth & Nina Rugeles
[Image description: Leading With Empathy & Allyship promo with photos of Sunday Parker, a White female with medium-length blonde hair and cream sleeveless blouse; and host Melinda