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.

Not Disabled Enough? – AXSChat Podcast

Losing your hearing is hard enough. Losing your hearing two weeks into new motherhood forces you to rebuild everything at once. We sit down with Tiffany Storrs, an actor, best-selling author, and award-winning advocate for hidden disabilities, to talk about what happens after sudden hearing loss, what people get wrong about deafness, and how she learned to live between two soundscapes with cochlear implants and the support she needs to stay safe and connected.We dig into Tiffany’s book “Adaptability,” her true story of transforming pain into purpose, and the practical reframe that keeps her moving: stop getting stuck on “why me” and start asking “what next.” She breaks down her “next 200 feet” approach to accepting a new disability, trying communication options like hearing aids, cochlear implants, and ASL, and refusing to confuse overwhelm with incapability. Her perspective is honest and specific, built on lived experience rather than feel-good slogans.Then we go straight at the systems that still shut deaf people out: the lack of deaf speakers at conferences, the “too expensive” excuse, and the exhausting moment when someone says “you don’t look deaf” or decides you’re “not disabled enough.” Tiffany also shares what accessibility in the entertainment industry should actually mean, why inclusive casting can’t be tokenism, and how productions can build accommodations in from day one so disabled artists can focus on great work, not constant negotiation.If you care about disability advocacy, deaf representation, hidden disabilities, workplace accessibility, and inclusive media, this conversation will give you language, insight, and a sharper lens. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review to help more listeners find Access Chat.Send us Fan MailSupport the showFollow axschat on social media.Bluesky:Antonio https://bsky.app/profile/akwyz.comDebra https://bsky.app/profile/debraruh.bsky.socialNeil https://bsky.app/profile/neilmilliken.bsky.socialaxschat https://bsky.app/profile/axschat.bsky.socialLinkedInhttps://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

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