The Blind Blogger Who’s Shaping the Future of Digital and Workplace Access

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Hosting a conversation with Maxwell Ivey, known as “The Blind Blogger,” brought a powerful reminder of why accessibility matters far beyond compliance. His story is one of persistence, adaptability, and advocacy, showing how communication and collaboration can open doors not only for people with disabilities but for everyone around them.

Podcasting over the past 13 years has been a journey of finding purpose and building meaningful connections. That journey has led to conversations with extraordinary individuals like Ivey, who began his career in 2007 when he launched a website to broker used amusement park rides. At a time when accessibility was almost nonexistent online, he taught himself HTML to get his site running. Over time, his path evolved into work as a life goals coach, publicist, and ultimately, an accessibility expert and advisor for Podmatch.com.

When asked about the challenges people face in the workplace, Ivey explained how disability disclosure is often misunderstood. “For the most part, when you check one of those boxes you're opening up the misconceptions, misbeliefs, fear, anger that the other person has around a disability,” he said. “If we could turn it from a checkbox to a conversation as part of accommodation, then that would be much better.”

That message resonates deeply after experiencing workplace discrimination firsthand following hearing loss from a surgical error. Years of dedication and proven performance suddenly mattered less than a new reality that required understanding and simple accommodations. Yet, instead of support, the response was, “That’s your problem, not ours.” That moment underscored the importance of education and advocacy, both for employees and employers.

Ivey emphasized that while the Americans with Disabilities Act is essential, it falls short of addressing all accessibility gaps. “A lot of the accommodations that are needed cost less than $500,” he said, pointing out that businesses and organizations often underestimate the value of accessibility.

Digital accessibility was a key focus of the discussion. Ivey outlined simple steps to create more inclusive websites. “Start with keyboard navigation and then add mouse, hover, and other options. Use a simple website design because the more complicated items you add, the more likely you are to create an accessibility issue,” he advised. He also encouraged the use of descriptive alt text for images, clear navigation paths, and a focus on what truly matters most to visitors.

Recognizing that many people simply don’t know where to begin, Ivey extended an offer to review websites at no cost. “If people will reach out to me and say that you saw me on Cleveland Radio, I will review your homepage and tell you where you stand for free,” he said.

What stood out most in the conversation was Ivey’s belief that accessibility is not just about compliance but about recognizing the value that people with disabilities bring to every environment. “People with disabilities have to start becoming creative problem solvers from early ages,” he said. “We had to figure out a way to accomplish the goals that we wanted to accomplish on a daily basis so that we could have the same kind of lives everybody else wants.”

For anyone looking to learn more or take the first steps toward accessibility, Ivey can be found at theaccessibilityadvantage.com and on LinkedIn.

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