Opening new doors to innovation, fighting ableism

Patrick Cokley

For too long, accessibility has been treated as a last‑minute compliance checkbox, a final, grudging task before launch. Patrick's work reframes access and accessibility as essential R&D. Meaningful engagement with disabled people from the very beginning (from the blank sheet of paper, from the clear blue sky) creates more useful products. Patrick knows that collaborating with, and learning from, disabled people from the very start ships product that is better for everyone.

Teaching. Learning.

Influence is measured by who listens. With experience talking to policymakers, corporate leaders, and philanthropists, Patrick understands how to clearly communicate without hiding behind jargon or platitudes.

Communicating.

As a member of President Biden's Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Patrick centered disability inclusion and racial equity in America’s talent engine because Patrick knows that in an increasingly competitive global landscape, we cannot afford to overlook the contributions of emerging disabled Black founders, engineers, and scientists.

Leading.

At comic cons and pop‑culture forums, Patrick connects accessibility with story, fandom, and mainstream demand. From debating Daredevil’s portrayal to deconstructing what “good” looks like in games and media, he shows how inclusive design becomes market advantage. The message to builders: design for the edge and watch the center follow.

Culture.