CHERYL'S STORY
Cheryl Mitchell s a nationally recognized accessibility leader with more than two decades of experience shaping disability policy, inclusive practices, and organizational change. As a co-founder of AccessForge and a longtime leader within the accessibility movement, Cheryl has guided institutions through complex questions of access, equity, and sustainability, helping them move from compliance to meaningful inclusion. Her work centers disabled voices, rigorous research, and practical implementation, ensuring accessibility efforts are grounded in real-world impact. Cheryl brings a rare combination of policy expertise, lived insight, and strategic leadership to every partnership, helping organizations build systems that work better for everyone.
THIS IS DEEPLY PERSONAL
I became my mother’s caregiver after she became disabled, and I saw how fast access can slip away when spaces are not built with disability in mind. Access to community. Access to dignity. Access to faith.
Watching someone I love struggle to participate in places that once gave her comfort and connection changed me. It reshaped how I understand accessibility. It is not a “nice to have.” It is often the difference between being included and being quietly pushed to the edges.
That’s why I do this work. I help communities design belonging on purpose, so no one is left on the margins, unheard or unseen.
1 in 3 Families With a Disabled Child Simply Stay Home
According to national survey data cited in multiple studies, roughly one-third of people with disabilities and their families avoid attending worship services because of physical, communication, or attitudinal barriers within their faith communities. Explore Belonging by Design™ to learn how to remove the most common barriers and create a clear, welcoming path to participation.
Discover What You'll LearnMARK'S STORY
Mark Barlet is a service-disabled U.S. Air Force veteran and one of the earliest pioneers of the modern accessibility movement. For more than two decades, he has led large-scale cultural change across industries by reframing accessibility from a charitable afterthought into a strategic imperative. As the founder of AbleGamers and now a leader at AccessForge, Mark has worked with global organizations to help them understand not just how to remove barriers, but why accessibility drives growth, sustainability, and relevance. His work bridges lived experience, leadership strategy, and systems-level change, helping organizations move from intention to impact.
Unlock Attendance by Designing for the People You’re Already Losing
As communities age, more members begin navigating hearing loss, low vision, mobility fatigue, chronic pain, and memory changes. People often do not announce these needs. They simply attend less, participate less, or move to online only because showing up feels harder than it used to. Explore Belonging by Design™ to learn practical ways to remove barriers and keep people connected in person and online.
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