In this powerful episode, hosts Kelvin Crosby and Chris Maher sit down with AnnMarie Killian, CEO of TDIforAccess, to explore her personal journey as a deaf woman and longtime advocate for accessibility and inclusion. AnnMarie shares her experience growing up in a hearing family, discovering American Sign Language later in life, and the challenges and triumphs that shaped her leadership.

The conversation covers:

• The richness of Deaf culture and identity
• Navigating communication and relationships as a deaf individual
• The importance of universal design that benefits everyone
• How lived experience drives policy and innovation
• TDI’s bipartisan advocacy work on major initiatives like CVTA and NG911
• The need for cross-disability collaboration to create more inclusive technology and infrastructure

AnnMarie also previews the upcoming Wawability Summit, celebrating the 35th anniversary of the ADA with performances and panels that spotlight disability talent, leadership, and innovation.

This episode is a celebration of resilience, representation, and the power of community to drive systemic change.

Links & Resources:

AnnMarie Killian: LinkedIn

TDIforAccess: Website

Wawability Summit: Website

COMING SOON!

American Sign Language (ASL) and Captioning for each episode will be provided on our YouTube channel. Go to handle @SamaritanPartners.

In this episode of Investing in Accessibility, co-hosts Kelvin Crosby and Chris Maher dive deep into the investment process at Samaritan Partners, exploring how they evaluate businesses in the disability sector. The conversation covers the fund's unique structure as a public benefit fund, focusing on social good while achieving strong financial returns.

Chris breaks down the key criteria Samaritan Partners uses when considering potential investments, including the importance of social impact, the strength of the founding team, and the scalability of the business model. Kelvin and Chris also cover topics such as starting relationships with VCs early, the importance of product-market fit, finding the right commercial model, due diligence is a two-way street, and more. This episode provides invaluable insights on building lasting partnerships and scaling your business for both social impact and financial success.

COMING SOON!

American Sign Language (ASL) and Captioning for each episode will be provided on our YouTube channel. Go to handle @SamaritanPartners.

In this powerful episode of Investing in Accessibility, co-hosts Kelvin Crosby and Chris Maher sit down with digital accessibility pioneer Mike Paciello, Chief Accessibility Officer at AudioEye and founder of The Paciello Group. Mike shares his remarkable four-decade journey—from converting print documentation into Braille in the 1980s to shaping web accessibility standards and launching multiple successful ventures.

Now at the forefront of scalable digital accessibility solutions, Mike explains why automation and AI are essential for meeting the growing digital needs of people with disabilities. He shares his vision for a future where accessibility is invisible, integrated, and universal—where technology adapts to users, not the other way around. This episode offers valuable insights into how human-centered innovation can drive both social impact and economic opportunity.

Linke & Resources:

Mike Paciello: Connect on LinkedIn

Mike at AudioEye: michael.paciello@audioeye.com

Mike at WebAble: mpaciello@webable.com

WebABLE: website

COMING SOON!

American Sign Language (ASL) and Captioning for each episode will be provided on our YouTube channel. Go to handle @SamaritanPartners.