One billion people worldwide, including one in four Americans, live with a disability. This makes it the largest minority group in the entire world. This diverse, powerful, and vibrant community is often associated to pity or limitations. Cerebral Palsy affects my motor skills and legs. My elementary school classmate still tells me that his father wouldn't allow him to play with strange kids. I was stopped by someone on the street last week asking if they could pray to me. Many disabled people find it difficult to enter the workforce due to these negative stereotypes. They are more likely than nondisabled individuals to be unemployed at twice the rate.
These misconceptions can be changed. One word: entrepreneurship.
People with disabilities have an inborn ability to solve problems. We have to learn how to dress, drive, communicate and live in a world that does not suit our needs from the moment we wake up. People with disabilities are twice as likely to start their own business than people without disabilities.
I founded 2Gether-International (2GI) to harness this entrepreneurial mindset. 2GI is the only startup accelerator that is run by and for disabled entrepreneurs. It provides resources, training and opportunities, as well as a community, to assist disabled founders in creating a path to funding and success. We envision a world where disability is valued as an opportunity for innovation, strength, and creativity.
This National Disability Employment Awareness Month, we teamed up with Google for Startups to launch our first-ever tech edition of the 2Gether-International Accelerator. This program supports early-stage startups in key areas such as market fit, management and sales. 16 founders are paired with industry experts, certified business coaches, facilitators, and others such as Bill Bellows (professor and codirector of Entrepreneurship Incubator at American University). They will leave the program with ready-to-present pitches to investors and a network made up of other founders and experts like Google.
We are proud to have selected the first 2Gether International startup class.
Adam David Jones, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, of Zeer. Zeer is a 911 enhancement that uses machine-learning and connected devices to create an automated safety response system.
Zeer is a 911 enhancement that utilizes machine learning and connected devices in order to create an autonomous safety system. Arianna Mallozzi (Boston Massachusetts) is the founder of Puffin Innovations, an assistive tech startup that focuses on helping people with disabilities live more independent and inclusive lives.
Puffin Innovations is an assistive technology startup that focuses on helping people with disabilities live more independent and inclusive lives. Beth Kume-Holland (London U.K.), Patchwork Hub. This accessible employment platform connects employers with highly skilled professionals looking for work opportunities that are not the traditional 9-to-5 office job.
Patchwork Hub is an accessible employment platform that connects employers and highly skilled professionals looking for work outside of the traditional 9-to-5 job. Denis Goncharov (St. Petersburg Russia) is the founder of NOLI Music. This smart synthesizer and musical education application facilitates remote learning and tracks progress.
NOLI Music is a smart synthesizer for guitars and musical education app that allows distance learning and tracks progress. Elizabeth Tikoyan (Fairfax Virginia) of Healp. This health social network connects patients with community and crowdsourced solutions to their health problems.
Healp is a social network for health that connects patients with their community and crowdsourced solutions. Gareth Walkom (Ghent in Belgium) of WithVR. This app uses virtual reality to help people with speech disorders prepare for real-life situations.
WithVR is an app that uses virtual reality in order to help people with speech disabilities prepare for real-life situations. Hua Wang (Alexandria Virginia) is a member of SmartBridge Health. This app aims to make it easier for patients to access the best cancer care and improve their health outcomes.
SmartBridge Health is a platform that democratizes access to the best cancer care in order to improve patient health outcomes. Kristy McCann, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, of Go Coach. This business software platform helps candidates to grow their careers, unlock their potential, and find greater happiness at work.
Go Coach is a business software platform that helps candidates to grow their careers, unlock their potential, and enjoy greater work happiness. Kun Ho Kim (Seoul South Korea) is the founder of Door Labs. This startup seeks to make positive social changes in real life by creating a virtual world that celebrates all identities and promotes inclusion.
Door Labs is a startup that aims to create a virtual world in which all identities can be celebrated and represented. Michael Zalle (Phoenix Arizona) of YellowBird. YellowBird is an online marketplace that connects safety, environmental and health professionals with projects and corporate needs.
YellowBird is an online marketplace that connects safety, environmental and health professionals with companies and their projects. Nikolas Kelly (Rochester New York) of Sign-Speak. This AI sign language interpreter allows non-signers to communicate easily with Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals.
Sign-Speak is an AI sign language translator that allows non-signers to communicate easily with Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals. Saida Florexil (West Palm Beach Florida), of Imanyco is a live transcription app that helps people who are hard of hearing and deaf.
Imanyco is a transcription app that allows people who are hard of hearing and deaf to use live. Samantha Scott (Rockville Maryland), of JuneBrain. JuneBrain is a company that builds wearables and software monitoring systems to detect and monitor brain disease and eye conditions outside of traditional clinical settings.
JuneBrain is a company that develops wearables and software monitoring systems to detect and monitor brain disease and eye conditions outside of traditional clinical settings. Sheryl Mattys (Westfield Indiana) of Fetchadates - a social networking app that allows pet owners to connect with other animal lovers.
Fetchadates is a social networking platform for pet owners to meet other animal lovers. Toshe Ayo–Ariyo (Los Angeles California) of UInclude. This bias mitigation tool uses machine learning algorithms and detects and eliminates implicitly biased language in recruitment materials.
UInclude is a bias mitigation tool which uses machine learning algorithms. It identifies and eliminates implicitly biased language in recruitment materials. Vanessa Gill (Los Angeles California), of Social Cipher. This social-emotional learning platform offers games and curriculums to help neurodivers youth build learning skills and positive boundaries.
2GI is looking to expand its offerings by involving corporate partners. It is crucial that we work with leaders who understand the impact people with disabilities make on the world. Google has always supported the disabled community, whether it's through developing accessible products, partnering in community organizations or hiring more people with disabilities. I believe that Google's support for founders with disabilities will be a model for inclusion in the startup community.
Find out more about 2GI, Google for Startups, and Judy Heumanns podcast, The Heumann Perspective. Stay tuned for updates from our founders over three months, as they grow their businesses and the perception of disabled founders all around the globe.
