Meet the Authors
Michelle Bartlett (she/her) is an Assistant Professor at Old Dominion University with a Ph.D. in Higher Education Leadership. She shares her passion for inclusive training design as the co-founder of the UNITE Design Lab and serves as the Professional Development Trustee for the Association for Career and Technical Education Research.
Betty Dannewitz (she/her) is a Leadership Development Solutions Architect at The Ken Blanchard Companies with over 20 years of corporate learning experience. She is a recognized expert in immersive technology, including AR, VR, and 360-video. Betty is also the Founder & CEO of ifyouaskbetty, LLC., helping learning professionals create innovative solutions.
Belo Miguel Cipriani (he/him) is a digital inclusion strategist and the founder of Oleb Media. Known for his advocacy work, he helps organizations build inclusive websites and apps. Recognized as an "Agent of Change," Belo has received widespread acclaim for his contributions to digital accessibility and inclusion.
Todd Cummings (he/him) is the Chief Operations Officer at ELB Learning, where he has helped transform the company into a global leader in the learning industry. He is a co-founder of Inspire Accessibility, focusing on fostering innovation and collaboration for accessible learning experiences.
Brian Dusablon (he/him), MSW, is an accessibility and inclusion advocate who coaches individuals and organizations to create more inclusive experiences. With a Master’s in Social Work and a CPACC certification, Brian is passionate about amplifying diverse voices and improving communication across all platforms.
Suzanne Ehrlich (she/her), EdD, is an Associate Professor and Program Director at the University of North Florida. As a Women in AI Fellow, her research focuses on Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and fostering inclusive training environments through technology and design.
Diane Elkins (she/her) is the co-founder of Artisan Learning, a custom learning design firm, and the author of the E-Learning Uncovered book series. As a founding board member of Inspire Accessibility, she champions accessibility in the e-learning industry.
Meryl K. Evans (she/her), CPACC, is a TEDx speaker, trainer, and consultant specializing in disability inclusion and accessibility. Born profoundly deaf, Meryl brings her unique perspective to her work and enjoys crochet projects and trying new activities in her free time.
Sarah Mercier (she/her), MBA, CPACC, is the CEO of Build Capable, specializing in innovative learning technology and inclusive design. She is a keynote speaker and leader in learning technology strategy, living in Olympia, WA, where she enjoys nature and marine life.
Mary Henry Lightfoot (she/her), MS, NIC: Adv., CI/CT, is the Senior Digital Learning Manager at the Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center. She is a seasoned interpreter and educator specializing in accessible and online learning solutions.
Kassy LaBorie (she/her) is a virtual training pioneer, speaker, and author specializing in remote learning and human connection. She is the founder of Kassy LaBorie Consulting, LLC., where she trains professionals in online presenting and engaging virtual team strategies.
David Lindenberg (he/him), CPACC, is a Senior Technical Learning and Development Specialist at SAS Institute. With over 15 years of experience, he is an instructional designer, e-learning developer, and a CPACC-certified accessibility advocate.
Jean Marrapodi (she/her), PhD, CPTD, has over 25 years of experience in learning and development, specializing in participatory learning. She lives south of Boston and is dedicated to accommodating diverse learners.
Jess Jackson (she/her/they/them), M.Ed, MBA, is a diversity and equity advocate with two decades of experience. She is nationally recognized for designing award-winning diversity strategies and developing evidence-informed curriculum rooted in social psychology research.
Michelle Jackson (she/her) is the founder and CEO of Tilak Learning Group, where she helps organizations design accessible and engaging learning experiences. She is a Certified Professional in Talent Development with extensive experience in conference presentations and accessibility advocacy.
Cara North (she/her) is an award-winning learning experience leader and the founder of The Learning Camel. She authored Learning Experience Design Essentials and serves as an adjunct instructor at Boise State University. Cara lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her partner and three cats, Bib Fortuna, Pollock Wallace, and Saffron Leiko.
Haley (Shust) Penrod (she/her) is a passionate Design for All advocate. At Salesforce, she created an Accessibility Specialist role in hopes of ensuring equitable learning experiences. She is also the co-owner of The Helpful Folks where she provides strategic, design, and training support for organizations interested in building accessible practices. Haley lives in Chicago, Illinois, with her husband, Dustin, and two Saint Bernards, Eleanor and Herbert. When not at a desk, she spends her time reading, cooking, or training at the gym.
Yvonne Urra-Bazain (she/her) is an e-Learning Developer for Briljent whose work is informed by her experience problem-solving for state departments, medical companies, and sales groups. She brings a decade of service as a K-6 public educator to her collaborative training and development material. Yvonne advocates for accessible, user-focused design practices at virtual and in-person industry conferences.
Daron Moore (he/him) is a seasoned talent and organizational development consultant with a passion for fostering inclusive workplaces. With a B.S. in Management & Organizational Leadership and extensive experience, he helps organizations create environments where employees feel seen, heard, and valued.
Karen Hyder (she/her), CTT+, is a trainer of trainers, online-event producer, and speaker coach. With decades of experience, she specializes in live, online learning experiences and supports continuing education initiatives. Karen also enjoys rescuing cats and restoring old houses in her spare time.
Kristin Torrence (she/her) is an immersive learning engineer specializing in applying learning sciences and instructional design to XR solutions. She is the co-founder of XR in LXD and an active member of iLRN, XR Women, and IEEE ICICLE. Kristin holds a Master's degree in Cognitive Studies in Education.
Leah Holroyd (she/her) is the co-director of White Bicycle Ltd, specializing in bespoke online courses and digital accessibility training. Recognized as a top entrepreneur, Leah is passionate about disability inclusion and holds a degree in Modern and Medieval Languages from the University of Cambridge.
Susi Miller (she/her) is the founder and director of eLaHub, specializing in accessible and inclusive learning content. With over 30 years of experience, she authored Designing Accessible Learning Content and is a passionate advocate for digital accessibility in the public, private, and third sectors.
Judy Katz (she/her) helps organizations become more neuroaccessible and neuroinclusive. With an MBA, MEd, and extensive experience in L&D to draw on, Judy provides an authentic, research-backed perspective on neurodivergence. She's passionate about social justice and enjoys spending time with her twins and singing karaoke in the Pacific Northwest.
Alan Natachu (he/him) is a learning and development professional with over two decades of experience. He transitioned from an artist career, working with organizations like ABC/Disney, to a training career at Apple. Alan is passionate about emerging L&D technologies, accessible content, and closed captions in media.
JD Dillon (he/him) is a frontline enablement expert with over 20 years of experience in Operations and L&D roles at organizations like Disney, AMC, and Kaplan. He is the author of The Modern Learning Ecosystem, Chief Learning Officer at Axonify, and founder of LearnGeek, an insights and advisory practice.