In this episode, co-hosts Kelvin Crosby and Chris Maher welcome a very special guest: Chris’s oldest daughter, Charlotte Maher—an EMT-turned-emergency management professional whose life with spastic hemiplegia has forged extraordinary resilience. Charlotte shares early memories (and family stories) of therapies, leg and back braces, and the infamous “constraint camp,” then traces how those experiences shaped her confidence, leadership, and service mindset. 

Charlotte takes us inside life on an EMS crew, the power of teamwork-based accommodations, and why inclusive planning isn’t a nice-to-have in crises—it’s table stakes. Fresh from FEMA’s Emergency Management Basic Academy, Charlotte demystifies tactical project management, whole-community planning, and accessible communications—closed captions, ASL, multilingual alerts, and more. This warm, funny father–daughter conversation delivers practical insights on designing for everyone, building resilient systems, and picking yourself up and dusting yourself off to keep moving forward. 

Links & Resources:

Charlotte Maher: LinkedIn

GWU Campus Safety: Website

FEMA: Website

COMING SOON!

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

Join hosts Kelvin Crosby and Chris Maher for an inspiring conversation with Cara Yar Khan, founder & CEO of The Purple Practice, former UNICEF humanitarian, filmmaker, and fierce disability advocate. Cara traces her multicultural roots and early activism, the winding journey to a rare diagnosis of hereditary inclusion body myopathy, and how she learned to lead, pitch, and live with radical authenticity.

This episode dives into Cara’s multicultural upbringing and early passion for service, her transition from denial to embracing disability with pride, and her practical framework for storytelling and fundraising through the “Issue, Action, Impact” model. She discusses navigating ableism with grace, managing entrepreneurial burnout through confidence and community, distinguishing between healthy struggle and harmful suffering, and finding joy in small “Everest moments” of progress. Along the way, Kelvin, Chris, and Cara unpack lessons on authenticity, preparation, confidence, and the sustaining power of community in entrepreneurship and advocacy.

Links & Resources:

Cara Yar Khan: LinkedIn

Cara's Film: Facing the Falls

Cara's Website: Here

Cara's TED Talk: Here

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, hosts Kelvin Crosby and Chris Maher explore how The Accessibility Lab at The Schoolhouse Hotel in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia is transforming the travel and hospitality industry for people with disabilities.

Chris shares how this innovative partnership between Samaritan Partners, The Schoolhouse Hotel, and TravelAbility is turning a boutique hotel into a living lab for testing cutting-edge accessibility solutions. From smart wayfinding tools like RightHear to cost-effective door openers by We Hear You, and comprehensive accessibility assessments from Wheel the World, The Accessibility Lab is creating a model for universal design that could shape the future of hotels everywhere.

The conversation dives deep into the challenges travelers with disabilities face, the exciting technologies being piloted, and how this project fosters not only accessible travel but also entrepreneurship, inclusive employment, and adaptive outdoor experiences.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, investor, hospitality leader, or accessibility advocate, this episode will open your eyes to the opportunities in building a truly inclusive travel experience.

Links & Resources:

The Accessibility Lab: Web Page

The Schoolhouse Hotel: 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 inspiring episode of Investing in Accessibility, hosts Kelvin Crosby and Chris Maher sit down with Chris Soukup, CEO of Communication Service for the Deaf (CSD), for a powerful conversation about advocacy, innovation, and the future of accessibility.

Chris shares his family’s remarkable legacy—from his grandfather’s struggles with discrimination as a deaf farmer in South Dakota to his father founding CSD with a $15,000 grant and a vision for equal rights and access. Over the past 50 years, that grassroots effort has grown into a pioneering organization transforming life for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community.

Listeners will hear how CSD evolved from early telecommunication services to nationwide video relay technology, its role in shaping access before and after the ADA, and the exciting innovations on the horizon—including AI and emerging communication tools designed to create greater independence and inclusion.

This episode is both a journey through history and a look ahead at how technology, advocacy, and entrepreneurship are shaping a more accessible world for all.

Links & Resources:

Chris Soukup: LinkedIn

Communication Service for the Deaf (CSD): 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, hosts Kelvin Crosby and Chris Maher welcome Mike May—entrepreneur, Paralympic athlete, navigation technology pioneer, and, as Chris calls him, “the most interesting man in the world.”

Mike shares his remarkable journey, from losing his sight at age three to regaining partial vision decades later, working for the CIA, competing on the world stage in skiing, and founding companies like Sendero Group, which developed the first GPS products for blind travelers. He reflects on the lessons learned from both entrepreneurial wins and setbacks, the mottos that guide his life, and the resilience and adaptability that fuel innovation.

The conversation also explores the future of assistive technology—from smart glasses to AI-powered navigation—and how products that serve both disability and mainstream markets can drive lasting impact. Mike also offers candid advice to early-stage founders about balancing passion with business viability, staying adaptable, and always looking for alternative solutions.

This inspiring discussion highlights not only Mike’s extraordinary path but also broader insights on problem-solving, resilience, and building a more accessible world.

Links & Resources:

Mike May: LinkedIn

Crashing Through Book: Website

The People Make The Places: Podcast

American Printing House: 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, hosts Kelvin Crosby and Chris Maher dive into the evolution of accessibility tech with Josh Miller, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of 3Play Media—a leading media accessibility company that started at MIT and grew into an industry trailblazer.

Together, they unpack how 3Play Media emerged from a real-world need to caption complex academic videos into a scalable tech-driven company that combines AI innovation with human precision. Josh shares his entrepreneurial journey—from an early startup that didn’t succeed, to building a company with strong co-founder dynamics, to navigating growth, acquisitions, and private equity investment—all while staying mission-focused.

In this episode you’ll hear:

• The story behind the founding of 3Play Media and how it identified a niche before the market even existed.
• Why accessibility must be built for both the buyer and the end user—and how balancing compliance with value is key.
• How AI has revolutionized speech recognition, captioning, and media accessibility—and where it's going next.
• The importance of customer workflow, scalability, and being AI engine agnostic.
• What it takes to grow a successful company in a mission-driven market, including how to say no to misaligned opportunities.

Josh also offers powerful insights for early-stage founders on execution, differentiation, and staying true to the mission in the face of rapid tech evolution and market shifts.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, investor or accessibility advocate, this episode is packed with lessons on how to scale with impact.

Links & Resources:

Josh Miller: LinkedIn

3Play Media: Website

2025 State of ASR: Report

COMING SOON!

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

In this dynamic episode of Investing in Accessibility, Host Kelvin Crosby introduces a special panel session from the Wawability 2025 Summit, celebrating 35 years of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Titled “Design, Capital, and Impact: The Future of Disability Startups,” the panel is moderated by Co-Host Chris Maher and features three visionary disability tech entrepreneurs:

• Tomer Aharoni – Co-founder & CEO of Nagish, building accessible communication tools for the deaf and hard of hearing.
• Michael Bervell – Co-founder & CEO of TestParty, an AI-powered platform that automates digital accessibility.
• Diego Mariscal – Founder & CEO of 2Gether-International, the largest accelerator supporting disabled entrepreneurs.

Together, they explore:

• Disability as a competitive advantage — How lived experience fosters innovation, resilience, and problem-solving.
• Universal design and market potential — Why accessibility-focused products often lead to better solutions for everyone.
• Navigating regulation — From hacking policy to leveraging new global legislation like the European Accessibility Act.
• Raising capital — Honest reflections on pitching to investors, building trust, and proving the business case for accessibility.
• The power of mentorship and accelerators — How early guidance and ecosystem support helped launch and scale their missions.

The episode closes with an inspiring look toward the future: the panelists share why they're optimistic about accessibility, innovation, and the opportunity to create a world that is not just better for some of us, but for all of us.

Links & Resources:

Video Version with ASL Interpreter: Watch Here

Wawability 2025: Website

Tomer Aharoni: LinkedIn and Company Website

Michael Bervell: LinkedIn and Company Website

Diego Mariscal: LinkedIn and Company 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, hosts Kelvin Crosby and Chris Maher welcome Levin Sliker, co-founder and CEO of Point Designs, a pioneering company that creates durable, 3D-printed prosthetic fingers. Levin shares his inspiring journey from academia to entrepreneurship, detailing how a university project aimed at solving a real-world problem evolved into a mission-driven company reshaping prosthetic care for people with partial hand amputations.

The conversation delves into the surprising prevalence and psychological impact of finger loss, and how Point Designs is addressing a historically underserved market. Levin discusses the origin of the company’s technology, which began with metal 3D printing at the University of Colorado, and how early relationships and lean operations helped the team bootstrap their way to profitability.

Levin also outlines Point Designs' unique approach to funding—relying on grants rather than venture capital—and how this enabled slow, sustainable growth while staying mission-focused. He explains the importance of customer relationships, founder-led sales, and rapid iteration in product development. The episode also highlights the regulatory hurdles, the role of AI in customization, and the company's ongoing advocacy work to ensure broader insurance coverage for these life-changing devices.

Listeners will walk away with deep insights into the intersection of innovation, accessibility, and purpose-driven business—and the power of solving real problems with empathy, creativity, and resilience.

Links & Resources:

Levin Sliker: LinkedIn

Point Designs: 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 powerful episode of Investing in Accessibility, hosts Kelvin Crosby and Chris Maher welcome Ben Ogilvie, Head of Accessibility at ArcTouch and board member of the GAAD Foundation. Ben shares his deeply personal journey into accessibility—from adapting technology for his father after a life-changing accident to advocating for inclusive design following the birth of his son with a brain injury and epilepsy.

The conversation explores how Ben turned lived experiences into a career mission, ultimately shifting ArcTouch’s product philosophy to include a third pillar: accessibility, alongside usefulness and delight. Ben breaks down how ArcTouch supports clients—from scrappy startups to Fortune 100 corporations—by embedding accessibility into the entire product lifecycle. He emphasizes that accessibility is no longer a "why" conversation, but a “how,” and he illustrates the power of real user feedback over compliance checklists in driving change.

Key Topics Covered:

• Personal stories that fuel professional impact
• ArcTouch’s accessibility-first design philosophy
• Working with startups vs. large enterprises on inclusive design
• The Inclusive App Accelerator and its ecosystem of partners
• The role of AI and low-code platforms in scaling accessibility
• Strategic advocacy through GAAD Foundation and industry leadership

Links & Resources:

• Ben Ogilvie: LinkedIn
• ArchTouch: Website
• ArcTouch’s State of Mobile App Accessibility Report: Report
• GAAD Foundation: Website
• A11Y NYC Meetup: 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, we sit down with Larry Goldberg—media pioneer, policy shaper, and trusted advisor to the next generation of accessibility innovators. Larry shares his remarkable four-decade journey, from launching closed captioning at WGBH to shaping landmark accessibility legislation, leading corporate accessibility at Yahoo, and now mentoring mission-driven startups and nonprofits.

Hosts Kelvin Crosby and Chris Maher dig into Larry’s philosophy of “developed for people with disabilities, shared with the world,” exploring how startups can scale impact through inclusive design and thoughtful business models. This episode is packed with lessons on startup resilience, product-market fit, universal access, and the power of inclusive innovation.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, investor, corporate leader or advocate, this conversation with Larry is essential listening.

Links & Resources:

Larry Goldberg: LinkedIn

COMING SOON!

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