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Apple’s Director of Accessibility set to speak at SXSW in March

As noted on the official schedule website for the 2018 SXSW Conference & Festival held in Austin, TX, Apple’s Director of Global Accessibility Policy and Initiatives will make a public appearance at the annual event.

On March 15th, Sarah Herrlinger will speak as part of a panel at the Innovations In Accessibility session during the conference’s Startup & Tech Sectors track. SXSW describes the session as follows:

We rely on our phones for everything from booking hotels to finding the best tacos in Austin. Innovators are working to bring the efficiencies of tech to users of all abilities, with programs that can help a blind father cook or a deaf musician record an album. Tech has revolutionized disability access, and developers and creators are exploring ways to enhance user experience across abilities and platforms. This panel discusses why accessibility in tech is important and why more must be done.

As Apple’s accessibility lead, Herrlinger is primarily responsible for working on the company’s VoiceOver technology and Made for iPhone hearing aids. She has been an active advocate of Apple’s dedication to accessibility, and just last July spoke at the 22nd Biennial Conference of Telecommunications for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

Apple typically makes a public presence at SXSW in some form or another. Last year, Beats 1 anchor Zane Lowe spoke at a keynote about Apple Music. In previous years, the now-defunct iTunes Festival was held at SXSW. Back in 2011, Apple even set up a temporary retail store at the festival’s grounds.

Registration for SXSW, which runs this year from March 9-18, is now open. All panels require a paid badge to attend.


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Avatar for Michael Steeber Michael Steeber

Michael is a Creative Editor who covered Apple Retail and design on 9to5Mac. His stories highlighted the work of talented artists, designers, and customers through a unique lens of architecture, creativity, and community.

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