Accessible by Design with guest Sandy Lacey, Perkins School for the Blind
About this episode
The episode explores the intersection of accessibility, AI, and Boston's innovation ecosystem with guest Sandy K. Lacey.
At the heart of every revolution is an idea that expands who gets to participate. In this episode of Building AI Boston, we sit down with Sandy K. Lacey, the founding executive director of the Howe Innovation Center at Perkins School for the Blind, to explore how accessibility, AI, and Boston’s innovation ecosystem are converging to reshape what inclusive technology can look like. For nearly 200 years, Perkins has been inventing solutions that open doors for people with disabilities — from the iconic Perkins Brailler to global education programs that reach more than a million children and families. Sandy’s work carries that legacy forward by catalyzing collaboration across startups, universities, corporations, and government to accelerate innovation in disability tech. We dive into: • Why accessibility is not a niche issue but a universal one — affecting 25% of Americans today and nearly all of us eventually • How Boston’s unique AI and innovation ecosystem is poised to lead the nation in accessible technology • The unexpected power of “low-tech” innovation — including furniture made from adaptive cardboard that unlocks learning for kids • The future of braille literacy, and how…
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