In this episode of the PathAble Pod, host Burt Brooks (Co-founder & CEO of Pathable AI) is joined by Jake Schilling (Co-founder & CTO) for a deep dive into the intersection of technology, advocacy, and the disability community. Moving beyond simple "tech talk," the founders share their personal journeys—from Brooks’ background in nonprofit leadership to Jake’s transition from teaching to software engineering—and how their paths converged to solve systemic issues in vocational rehabilitation.

The conversation explores the "scarcity mindset" often found in service sectors and proposes a shift toward collaborative innovation. Jake and Brooks candidly discuss the "double-edged sword" of AI, addressing both the threats of algorithmic bias in hiring and the potential for ethical tools to automate administrative burnout, allowing human advocates to focus on meaningful connection.

The Mission of Pathable AI: Shifting focus from being a "tech company" to being people within the disability community solving tangible problems with specialized tools.

Overcoming Executive Dysfunction: How tangible consequences and a connection to "craft" help neurodivergent individuals find purpose and focus in their work.

The Problem with "Universal" Tools: Why massive platforms like Salesforce or HubSpot often fail the disability community and the need for "surgical," purpose-built software.

Agency vs. Independence: A powerful look at how care programs can unintentionally strip participants of their agency and how technology can restore active participation in one's own care plan.

Real-World Friction: Jake shares a personal story of how a "two-box" data entry glitch nearly cut off his family’s SNAP benefits, highlighting the high stakes of poor software design.