Xceptional Labs Empowers Disability Entrepreneurs with Innovative Online Event

Founder Mai Ling Chan Discusses Upcoming Exceptional Alliances Event.

In a recent interview with Debra Ruh, Antonio Vieira Santos and Neil Milliken from AXSCHAT, Mai Ling Chan, the founder and CEO of Exceptional Labs, provided insights into the upcoming Exceptional Alliances Epic Online Accessibility Event. The event is set to take place on October 20th and aims to bring together disability-focused entrepreneurs, advocates, and experts to discuss critical issues surrounding accessibility and inclusion.

Exceptional Labs, a venture co-founded by Mai Ling Chan, India Oakes, and Yono Welker, was initially conceived as an accelerator program for disability-focused entrepreneurs. However, due to the changing investment landscape, the team launched the Exceptional Alliances event as their first offering. The event fosters collaboration, promotes universal design, and provides a platform for change-makers in the disability community.

One of the key points highlighted during the interview was the need to break down barriers that prevent entrepreneurs with disabilities from accessing funding and support. Mai Ling Chan discussed the hesitancy some entrepreneurs feel about disclosing their disabilities to potential investors and the importance of changing perceptions and biases within the investment community.

The interview also touched on the challenges faced by entrepreneurs with disabilities, including concerns about losing essential benefits when starting a business. Mai Ling emphasized the importance of accessible resources and support to help individuals navigate these challenges.

Regarding the Exceptional Alliances event, Mai Ling Chan highlighted its comprehensive agenda, including discussions on accessibility ethics, public and private stakeholder involvement, lived experiences, workplace environments, and more. Notable speakers and advocates, such as Dr. Victor Pineda, Molly Levitt, and Edmund Asiedu, are set to participate in these discussions.

The event is open to all and will be accessible with American Sign Language interpretation and closed captioning. Recordings of the sessions will also be made available for those who cannot attend in real time.

To register for the Exceptional Alliances Epic Online Accessibility Event, individuals can visit the official website at exceptionalalliances.com. While the event is free, there is an option to access recordings and additional materials for a nominal fee.

Mai Ling Chan‘s dedication to promoting accessibility, inclusion, and entrepreneurship within the disability community is reflected in the event’s mission, and it promises to be a valuable gathering for those interested in these important topics.

From Twitter To Salesforce: Building Accessible Products That Scale – AXSChat Podcast

What if accessibility wasn’t a checkpoint but a capability baked into every release? We sit down with Shlomit Shteyer, a technical program leader at Salesforce, to explore how large organizations make accessibility real, measurable, and scalable without slowing product velocity. Her journey from shipping features at Twitter to building accessibility programs offers a candid look at turning strategy into operations and aligning teams around customer impact.We unpack the practical models that work at scale: start with a centralized core to set standards, then grow embedded expertise through a Champion Program that upskills engineers, designers, and PMs. Shlomit explains why this blend beats false either-or choices and how it creates durable habits across design, development, testing, and release. Executive commitment proves decisive. At Salesforce, accessibility targets sit in the annual planning framework, right alongside feature delivery and security, so teams have time, tools, and a clear definition of success.AI enters the story as a helpful colleague, not a shortcut. Think agentic assistance that flags issues early, suggests accessible patterns, and speeds remediation while leaving accountability with humans. We also look at a shifting market reality: customers now demand accessibility at contract time, moving organizations from reactive bug-fixing to proactive, compliant design. Collaboration across companies is a surprising superpower too, with leaders openly sharing training methods, metrics, and automation approaches to raise the bar industry-wide.From global, inclusive training formats to positioning accessibility within the broader trust layer—security, availability, sustainability—this conversation offers a roadmap for leaders who want impact, not slogans. Shlomit’s advice is grounded and human: cultivate curiosity, connect your strengths to work that matters, and build systems that make good choices the default. If you’re scaling accessibility or looking for a place to start, this episode will give you frameworks, language, and momentum.Enjoyed the conversation? Follow the show, share with a colleague, and leave a quick review to help more people find it.Send a textSupport the showFollow axschat on social media.Bluesky:Antonio https://bsky.app/profile/akwyz.com Debra https://bsky.app/profile/debraruh.bsky.social Neil https://bsky.app/profile/neilmilliken.bsky.social axschat https://bsky.app/profile/axschat.bsky.social LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/antoniovieirasantos/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/axschat/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/neilmilliken/Vimeohttps://vimeo.com/akwyzhttps://twitter.com/axschathttps://twitter.com/AkwyZhttps://twitter.com/neilmillikenhttps://twitter.com/debraruh

1. From Twitter To Salesforce: Building Accessible Products That Scale 23:36
2. Heather Hepburn: Leading the Charge for Accessibility at Skyscanner 27:21
3. How Competition And Collaboration Push Accessibility Tech Forward 31:33
4. Why Accessible Geographic Data Matters For Everyone 25:03
5. How Late ADHD And Autism Diagnoses Shape Women’s Companies And Lives 32:21