A Conversation Between Sunil Gunderia and Meredith Rosenberg
Ahead of their ASU+GSV Summit panel, “Breaking Barriers, Building Futures: Accessibility in Innovation,” Age of Learning’s Chief Innovation Officer, Sunil Gunderia, and NU Advisory Partner’s Co-Founder, Meredith Rosenberg, discussed the critical role of accessibility in education, innovation, and the workforce. They emphasized the importance of integrating accessibility from the classroom to the workplace to empower everyone and bridge learning gaps. We’ve captured highlights of their insightful dialogue in our latest blog post, emphasizing the critical need for proactive investment in human capital through inclusivity in both educational and professional spaces.
Meredith Rosenberg (MR): Sunil, when you think about the state of learning today. what are the underlying factors that create an impetus for change around equity and accessibility?
Suni Gunderia (SG): In my recent article, The Urgent Call for Edtech Innovation, I highlight challenges we face in education that impact both individual well-being and societal good. Examining the demographics for U.S. school-age students, you find that the majority come from low-income families and 15% are identified as having a disability. From The Nation’s Report Card you find that 80% of fourth-grade students from low-income families and 90% of those with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) are not achieving proficiency in reading.
Early reading is a cornerstone of success. Students who do not meet this milestone by the third grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school. The consequences of this extend into adulthood. High school dropouts earn 30% less than their graduate peers.
MR: There is such a clear connection between early education and the overall skills found and needed in our workforce. What can be done to address these challenges and help to close the gap?
SG: I am optimistic about the potential of technology to empower educators, parents, and students. We can use technology to dismantle barriers, address the education needs of every learner, and catalyze a workforce evolution that fully realizes human potential. Here are a few examples of initiatives leading the transformation we need:
- Department of Education: Published its 2024 National Educational Technology Plan that calls for closing digital divides in access, design, and use, fostering more inclusive learning environments.
- Educating All Learners Alliance: Offers a free foundational course with a focus on the ‘why’ of accessibility-enabled development, an introduction to accessibility, competitive and engineering benefits, and product and market implementation considerations.
- Stanford Accelerator for Learning: Marshalls the university’s research to focus on critical learning challenges (e.g., ECE, Workforce, Equity, and Learning Differences) that most need new discoveries, evidence, and solutions.
- EdSafeAI, Tech Interactive, Common Sense Media, et al: Designating a National AI Literacy Day (April 19) to help students, parents, educators, and other community members explore the fundamental question, “What is AI?”
- ASU+GSV Summit: The launch of the AIR Show marks a significant and ambitious effort to bring together educators, developers, and the curious to give them a glimpse of what is possible when we collaborate across the ecosystem to optimize AI’s impact.
MR: Great examples. Accessibility at the center of product efforts is key. What are you doing at Age of Learning?
SG: We are passionate about crafting a future of inclusive education. For our consumer program, ABCmouse, we ensure children experience stories and narratives that reflect the rich diversity of their lived experiences. For schools, we developed My Math Academy and My Reading Academy, specifically to address the proficiency gap by adapting learning to the needs of every student. Backed by 19 ESSA-aligned studies, we are able to assure educators of the effectiveness of our programs, particularly for their most vulnerable learners.
MR: AI is top of mind in the education sector. How can AI help in closing the inclusivity gap?
SG: Looking forward, we see a lot of potential in using AI to help students with special needs, as outlined in a The Hechinger Report article written by my colleague. We also recently partnered with OpenAI to test their new voice engine. From our early explorations, we believe that this technology and future LLM innovation will help us further address the unique learning needs of more of our students.
MR: Those are exciting initiatives to address needs while students are in school. The areas I look at and see my clients grapple with are: Once students leave school and transition into the workforce, how are companies embracing accessibility for their employees? Is accessibility embedded into organizations or just an afterthought? The answers to these questions impact company culture, hiring, and longer-term talent development.
SG: You are talking about how organizations can meet employees where they are and maximize employee contributions to an organization. From your vantage point of working with many employers, why are inclusion and accessibility such an important tenet?
MR: When accessibility is interwoven into every facet of business operations, it elevates everyone—employees, customers, and the community at large. This enlightened approach amplifies diversity and creativity within teams and positions companies to thrive in a competitive global landscape. Proving that the integration of accessibility from the ground up isn’t merely about doing what’s right; it’s a strategic and competitive advantage.
SG: Explain more about that.
MR: Accessibility is a cornerstone of inclusion and empowerment, transcending the mere act of accommodating individuals with disabilities. It serves as a catalyst for unleashing the full spectrum of human potential within our workplaces. By embedding accessible practices into areas such as hiring, training, processes, systems, and day-to-day operations, organizations can access broader talent pools, perspectives, and skills. This enriches workplace culture and drives innovation. Accessible workplaces invite everyone to participate fully and contribute their best. In doing so, accessibility enhances the collective capability of the workforce and fosters an environment where all employees can thrive.
SG: As an executive recruiter and advisor on all things “talent,” what are the impacts for your clients on hiring?
MR: Simply put – companies that lead in accessibility and inclusivity are better positioned to attract top talent. Embedding accessibility and inclusivity into the DNA of organizations is a primary driver of innovation and catalyst for growth.
SG: You have been outspoken about your vision disability. As a founder, how are you incorporating accessibility into your company?
MR: Our commitment to inclusivity and innovation permeates everything we do. How we work with clients and approach a search; how we are building our internal practices and creating our culture; and how we hire for ourselves. We are committed to building a team with the widest range of backgrounds and perspectives. We use technology to empower our clients, our candidates, and ourselves. We were early industry adopters of AI and other technologies, all of which incorporate the broadest possible approach to accessibility. We are a virtual company, enabling us to work with people from the physical environment that suits them best. Remote work and the use of collaborative tools are part of our standard practices, aimed at accommodating diverse work-life needs and preferences. This shows up in our business – 61% of all of our completed searches have resulted in a diverse placement.
SG: Thanks, Meredith, for sharing these perspectives championing accessibility from the classroom to the workplace.
MR: Great conversation, Sunil. Love this concept of bridging inclusivity in education with workforce empowerment. I’m looking forward to talking with you more during our panel at the ASU+GSV Summit.
This dialogue underscores the critical importance of investing in human capital by fostering an inclusive environment where everyone, regardless of background or ability, can thrive. By championing accessibility from the ground up, we can unlock vast potential across all sectors of society, ensuring that every individual has the opportunity to contribute to and benefit from our collective progress. Sunil and Meredith will continue the discussion at the ASU+GSV Summit, a pivotal forum for educators, innovators, and industry leaders alike.