Dame was born with cerebral palsy, a physical disability that requires him to use an electric wheelchair and has left him with a relatively low ability to use his hands. Yet, it became clear to him that nothing was going to hold him back from the career he was destined for. “My dad said, ‘David, you’re not going to be a firefighter, a police officer or a construction worker. But you also know what you’re not going to be? Living under this roof forever.’”
The encouragement (and a little tough love) from his father propelled him. And now he’s become a powerful voice of innovation in tech accessibility. He’s acutely aware of not only the challenges people with disabilities face, but also the incredible potential that assistive technology can unleash. Dame’s experiences and insights shed light on the way that technology can unlock the human potential of those experiencing disability and the workforce as a whole.
Increasing untapped talent
Dame’s experiences motivated him to join Microsoft with a goal of developing technology and tools that would enable those with disabilities to do more with less physical effort. And ultimately, both his product expertise and lived experience drove him to change how people think about product accessibility and inclusive design. Today, the way innovative companies approach accessible technology has changed dramatically, as have the impacts. With leaders like Dame, companies are increasingly building accessibility features into the products in a way that helps everyone.
Consider effective voice to text commands or AI summaries—two features that were once considered as only for accessibility but are now in use by business leaders and work-from-home parents alike. “Accessibility benefits everyone,” Dame notes, highlighting the need for tools that adapt to diverse users’ needs without extra effort.
Dame also stresses that as the global workforce ages and more people experience temporary or permanent disabilities, designing for accessibility becomes crucial. “When you design for someone like me today, you’re designing for your future self,” Dame explains. Inclusive design anticipates diverse needs, enabling technology to support employees at every stage of their careers. Organizations can unlock new talent pools by embedding accessibility into their technology, enhancing experiences for everyone.
Accessible technology fosters collaboration and boosts productivity. Through inclusive design, companies liberate the collective potential of their teams, enabling creativity and better outcomes for all. Simply put, companies that prioritize accessibility support worker productivity. Diverse workplaces attract and retain top talent, fostering environments where employees can thrive. Dame’s leadership exemplifies this shift.
Creating opportunities with assistive technology
Today, success at work depends on keeping up with productivity demands, so any delay to someone’s ability to perform their job matters greatly. Dame emphasizes that current technologies are helping him to be productive and ultimately thrive, “Copilot doesn’t just help me work better—it helps me reach my full potential.” Tools like Windows and Microsoft 365 Copilot save him time and enable him to focus on creative and strategic work. “It used to take me 14 minutes to draft an email. Now, I can generate it in minutes,” he notes. “With tools like these, I’m not just navigating challenges anymore—I’m thriving,” Dame emphasizes.
What the future holds
As technology evolves, building accessibility into the foundation of all products and processes will become an important best practice. Dame and his team envision a future where all assistive technologies are seamlessly integrated into all products to eliminate the need for additional tools or custom configurations. Systems will be designed to adapt to situational limitations (e.g., voice assistance that automatically activates while driving). AI will be used to improve tools like screen readers, enabling them to better understand user intent and dynamically adapt. Dame expanded on that idea with this example, “What if [a device’s] camera could read my eyes and see where I’m looking on the screen? So instead of using my voice to augment a mouse, maybe my head and eye movement are enough to be able to click something.”
By prioritizing accessibility, organizations unlock potential, drive innovation and create opportunities for all. “Windows gave me the freedom to contribute in ways I never thought possible. That’s the true power of accessibility,” Dame reflects. As his journey demonstrates, accessible technology is not just about leveling the playing field—it’s about transforming lives and redefining what’s possible.
Learn more about Windows and accessibility here.
https://youtu.be/IHcA7-99hQI
