1Remarks of Commissioner Mignon L. Clyburn (as prepared)
Accessibility Innovations Expo
Washington, DC
October 23, 2017
Good morning, everyone and welcome to the FCC’s first ever Accessibility Innovations 
Expo.  I am pleased to see such a tremendous turn out and thrilled by the level of enthusiasm for 
this important event.  This Expo was created in the spirit of National Disability Employment 
Awareness Month, and its theme, “Inclusion Drives Innovation” captures the tremendous power 
of public and private collaboration.  
What a terrific platform for showcasing the kind of innovative technologies that can 
transform the lives of people with disabilities.    
As you will see and experience firsthand, the exhibits showcased here today demonstrate 
that people with all abilities can thrive by taking advantage of groundbreaking and accessible 
technologies; and workplaces, and in turn, benefit directly from these advancements.  
Before I go any further, I would be remiss if I failed to thank all the talented people who 
made this event possible.  First, hats off to Pepco for the use of their beautiful gallery and to the 
FCC organizers -- the Consumer Affairs and Outreach Division and the Disability Rights Office 
in the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, as well as the FCC’s Connect2Health Task 
Force. We are grateful for your joint effort in conceiving and organizing this event.  Most of all, 
I want to extend my gratitude to each of you -- the companies and innovators here today. Those 
of us in attendance have an incredible opportunity to witness, learn and be inspired, by all the 
trail-blazing communications-based technologies and accessibility innovations on display.  
As you visit the booths and exchange ideas, remember: we simply cannot afford to leave 
anyone behind in this 21
st
Century, internet-based economy.  While there have been considerable 
improvements in accessibility to mainstream technology, too many Americans remain unable to 
utilize our most innovative advancements to their fullest potential.  Collectively, we must work 
to change that reality.  
There are more than 56 million people in our country, and over a billion people globally, 
with one or more disabilities and with advancements in medicine and our focus on fitness, those 
numbers will continue to climb as we live longer. So the time is now to close the digital divide 
that too many with disabilities face.  We must ensure that technologies are accessible and that 
anyone and everyone is able to enjoy and benefit from the innovation over the horizon.    
I’m proud to say that the FCC continues to engage in efforts to ensure that all members of 
our community have access to advanced communications services.  At our recent Disability 
Advisory Committee, we outlined a variety of measures requiring Commission action – from 
increasing the number of hours of video described programming for those who are blind or 
visually impaired . . . to improving how Americans with hearing loss access wireline and 
wireless communications services.  
2In addition, the FCC’s Disability Rights Office continues to work closely with various 
groups and organizations to directly address disability-related matters. Similarly, the FCC’s 
Connect2Health Task Force is engaged in efforts to better ensure that the benefits of broadband-
enabled health technologies and solutions are available and accessible to everyone.
But the FCC cannot do it alone. I look forward to establishing more partnerships as we 
build a future that works for and is accessible to everyone!   
                
As Maya Angelou once said, “You can’t use up creativity.  The more you use, the more 
you have.”  So stay inspired and continue to use your talents in innovative ways in order to tap 
the broad potential of ALL Americans.  Enjoy the Expo.