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Sunday Parker
Accessibility Programme Manager and MSc candidate
Sunday Parker is a daily BART commuter passionate about advocating for improved access to public transit for people with disabilities. She works as a Product A11y & Abilityforce at Salesforce. Her expertise lies in accessibility and user experience.
Sunday Parker holds a Master of Science (MS) in Disability, Design, and Innovation from University College London (UCL) and a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Interior Architecture and Design from the Academy of Art University.
With a rich professional background, Sunday has held various roles in top tech companies like Microsoft, Salesforce, AOL, and Apple, where she drove accessibility initiatives, managed client support programs, and led global teams.
Her leadership roles included being the Global President of Abilityforce at Salesforce, where she championed diversity and inclusion. Sunday's passion for accessibility and technology is evident in her involvement in accessibility outreach programs and strategic partnerships.
Passionate about creating inclusive user experiences, Sunday Parker's contributions to the tech industry have been significant. Her advocacy for people with disabilities extends to her personal life as well, as seen in her social media activity where she shares insights and perspectives on accessibility and public transit.
With a strong educational foundation in design, technology, and disability studies, Sunday Parker continues to drive change and make a positive impact in the accessibility and user experience domain.
Highlights
This post is a smidge overdue, but pleased to share that over the past year, I’ve been studying at University College London, pursuing an MSc in Disability, Design, and Innovation. This 1-year programme has been a transformative experience on every level, and I’ll be transitioning back into the workforce (in the UK!) this fall with a refreshed perspective that I’m eager to bring to the industry in my next role.
There’s no shortage of work to be done in the field of accessibility, and this time in academia has truly challenged, reinforced, and solidified my commitment to making an impact, in a capacity that feels authentic to me. The hardest, yet most meaningful, part of working in accessibility has always been the personal connection to the work — my purpose of creating a more accessible world for the next generation is stronger and more focused than ever before.
However, this isn’t just an announcement post! My dissertation focuses on inclusive retail strategies for the UK high street, and I’m seeking input from people with disabilities who live in or have traveled to the UK and shopped on the high street. If that’s you, could you take 10-15 minutes to complete a survey and support my research? https://lnkd.in/exvFYdXK
Thank you for your time and support!
Last week I had the incredible honor to visit Malawi with The Hunger Project and local disability partner organizations FEDOMA and DDF incredible grassroots disability-led orgs fighting for equal opportunities and access in their communities.
This is my first international accessibility project beginning almost two years ago with Microsoft Airband to connect 5 epicenter computer labs in rural Malawi incorporating accessibility alongside devices and connectivity reaching 70k residents. Having the opportunity to visit in person was an experience I'll never forget. As someone who's worked in accessibility for some time now, the statistics are known:
- There are 1 billion people with disabilities globally, 40% of whom live in low and middle income countries.
- Only 1 in 10 people with disabilities have access to the assistive technology they need. To be there and see the disproportionate impact put on multi-marginalized communities profoundly changes the way you see the work and emphasizes the importance of AT that is regionally relevant, affordable, and accessible. Thank you to the community of people in Malawi who shared their stories, experiences, and insights with me. There is so much work to be done and opportunities to bridge the disability divide through our partnerships.
Grace Chikowi Areej Al-Majali Sara Wilson
Megan Nykyforchyn-Clark Jenny Lay-Flurrie Teresa Hutson Vickie S. Robinson Jessica Rafuse Lydia Payne Carroon
