What TEDx and Paralympic Guides Taught Me About Leadership

Today is Global Accessibility Awareness Day or GAAD, a moment to celebrate how technology transforms lives. For me, as a Paralympian, keynote speaker, and blind athlete, accessibility technology doesn’t just help me live, it helps me thrive.

Let me take you behind the scenes to show how a few powerful tools allow me to compete, create, and connect at the highest levels.

1. Screen Readers: The Gateway to Productivity

Q: How do screen readers help blind athletes like Lex Gillette?

From a young age, I used screen readers like JAWS for Windows and VoiceOver for Mac. These tools read text aloud, allowing me to write school papers, surf the web, and now, manage my entire business as a motivational speaker and Paralympian.

Whether I'm drafting blogs like this one, collaborating on Google Docs and Sheets, or preparing keynote speeches, my screen reader acts as my digital eyes. My computer has truly become an extension of me.

For those interested, you can learn more about screen readers from the American Foundation for the Blind.

2. The Mobility Cane: A Symbol of Freedom

Q: How does a white cane empower Lex Gillette to travel and compete?

I once saw my mobility cane as a symbol of shame. Today, it represents freedom. My white cane allows me to navigate my neighborhood, board planes, explore new cities, and travel the world, over 20 countries and counting.

It guides me physically, but it also serves as a universal signal to others that I experience the world differently. In many ways, it starts breaking barriers before I even speak.

3. AI Tools: The Future of Accessibility

Q: How can AI like Google Gemini support Paralympians and motivational speakers?

Lately, tools like Google Gemini have become my digital assistant. I use AI to brainstorm content, generate social media ideas, plan color schemes for my stage outfits, and even research hashtags for my posts. This kind of AI technology helps me stay creative and efficient while growing my business.

The Bigger Picture: Accessibility Is Innovation

Q: Why should accessibility be a priority for everyone, not just people with disabilities?

Accessibility isn’t just about accommodation. It's about innovation and inclusion. When we design technology and spaces to be accessible, we open doors for everyone, not just people with disabilities. 

For more on accessible technology, check out my Top 7 AI tools for accessibility. 

On this Global Accessibility Awareness Day, I challenge all of us to rethink accessibility. It's not a compliance checkbox, it's a foundation for equity and opportunity. Read more about how my mom taught me how to be independent in this blog, Get Out of the Way! 

If you're an event organizer, business leader, or educator looking to explore these topics further, I invite you to check out my Keynote Speaking Services or Contact Me directly.

Together, let's build a world where everyone can see beyond the horizon.