Selective mutism is one of the most misunderstood conditions in the cognitive disability space. Most people hear "mutism" and assume silence—a person who simply doesn't speak. But selective mutism isn't a choice, a mood, or shyness. Classified in the DSM-5 as an anxiety disorder, it describes a condition in which the neurological ability to speak becomes functionally inaccessible in specific social contexts, even when the person desperately wants to speak. The words are there

Sometimes people aren’t as into it as you are. I’m enamored with artwork — with the mix of arts, deep passion, and creativity. It fuels my day. When I get to collaborate with someone who’s just as into it, that energy is unmatched. There’s a spark, a rhythm, a kind of beautiful intensity that carries you both forward. In product design, in art, in music — that shared flow creates magic. I love that feeling of creative electricity — but I’ve learned it’s not the only kind of c

A smiling low vision youth engaging with a digital kiosk in a library, with large text and simple interface on screen. What if we...

This weekend I mowed my neighbor’s lawn. She’s someone who’s spent 30 years as a public school teacher, grew up on a farm, and doesn’t...

Upset African American man with hand covering face, sitting in front of a computer If you want to help people, design something that...

I’ve spent two decades designing products that are meant to work for everyone—and I mean everyone. That includes people with...