Helping People Participate Through Technology
Technology has fascinated me for as long as I can remember. Like many people of my generation, that fascination began with home computers in the 1980s. What started as childhood curiosity quickly became a lifelong passion for understanding how technology works, how people use it, and, most importantly, how it can improve everyday life.
Today, I have the privilege of working as an Assistive Technologist at Western University, where I support students in overcoming barriers to learning through accessible technology, inclusive practices, and creative problem-solving. Every day is different. One moment I might be helping a student discover a new way to read course materials, the next I might be researching emerging AI tools, evaluating assistive technologies, or working with colleagues to make learning environments more accessible.
While technology is often at the centre of my work, I have come to believe that technology itself is rarely the real solution. The goal is participation. Technology is simply one of many pathways that can help someone fully engage in education, work, and everyday life. That philosophy has become the foundation of my professional practice and inspired me to develop the Participation–Barrier–Pathway (PBP) Framework, an approach that encourages practitioners to begin with what a person wants to accomplish, understand the barriers they face, and then design meaningful pathways toward participation.
Over the past two decades, I have worked in higher education, helping students, faculty, and staff understand and use technology more effectively. Along the way, I’ve discovered that one of my greatest passions is making complex technology easier to understand. Whether I’m working one-on-one with a student, delivering a presentation, writing a book, or creating online resources, my goal is always the same: to make technology practical, approachable, and genuinely useful.
Writing has become a natural extension of that mission. Through my books, articles, and presentations, I enjoy sharing ideas about assistive technology, accessibility, artificial intelligence, digital inclusion, and the future of learning. I believe knowledge becomes far more valuable when it is shared, and I hope the resources I create help others feel more confident exploring new technologies and new ways of thinking.
Outside of my professional work, I’m an enthusiastic lifelong learner and self-confessed technology enthusiast. I enjoy building websites, experimenting with new software, exploring artificial intelligence, and creating projects simply because they spark my curiosity. I’m also a longtime retro-computing fan with a particular affection for classic Atari systems, a hobby that reminds me where my love of technology first began. Whether I’m researching the latest accessibility tools or restoring vintage computers from the 1980s, I’m happiest when I’m learning something new and figuring out how it works.
Friends and colleagues know me as someone who is always building something. Whether it’s a new book, a website, a presentation, a workshop, or an idea that has been quietly developing in the background for months, I genuinely enjoy creating things that help people solve problems, understand technology, and see new possibilities. I don’t see technology as an end in itself—I see it as a tool for expanding opportunity, independence, and participation.
Thank you for visiting my website. I hope you’ll explore the books, resources, and ideas I’ve shared here. If something resonates with you, I’d love to hear from you. Whether you’re a student, educator, assistive technology professional, accessibility advocate, or simply someone who enjoys learning about technology, I hope you’ll find something here that informs, inspires, or encourages you on your own journey.
A Few Things About Me
💡 I’m usually working on my next idea before I’ve finished the current one.
☕ Tea fuels almost every project I work on.
📚 I love writing books that make complex technology easier to understand.
♿ I believe accessibility begins with participation, not technology.
🤖 I’m endlessly fascinated by artificial intelligence and where it’s taking us.
🕹️ My love of technology began with Atari home computers and has never really stopped.