A photo of Michael Babcock as he stands at his desk with a microphone off to his left and the office cubical wall behind him.
In ACB Next Generation, we know Michael Babcock as the website guru. He is always working behind the scenes to ensure our website remains current, looks its best, and is accessible. He is a regular contributor to the ACB Next Generation newsletter with his detailed and helpful Tech Tip articles. He also edits the ACB Next Gen podcast, which is released monthly. He is president of the Southwestern Chapter in Oregon. He unofficially assists his state affiliate and many others with their technology needs.
If you attended the ACB Conference and Convention this year, you likely remember encountering Michael at the exhibit hall at the A.T. Guys booth, where he patiently explained and demonstrated their products, from a convenient foldable keyboard to accessible speakers. He is a Manager of Customer Experience for A.T. Guys. He also has his own business called Payown Media, where he edits podcasts and works with individuals on creating content. He finds it rewarding to watch new podcasters bring their shows together and help them execute their vision.
When he was in school, Michael remembers being given pieces of technology by his Teacher of the Visually Impaired (TVI) with substantial gaps of time between lessons. Thus, Michael had large blocks of time to research the devices and learn how to use them on his own. Through a combination of consulting the manuals and experimenting, he gained confidence with a wide variety of devices and programs, which ignited a lifelong passion for technology and working with others to harness it in their lives. Sometimes a person is just starting out with technology and feels intimidated or unsure where to begin. Other times, individuals are near pros with technology but need a bit of coaching on a particular topic. No matter the question or level of support required, Michael guides individuals to access and use technology effectively. After all, technology is only becoming more commonplace on the job and in our world at large, and Michael feels it is so important for individuals to step outside their comfort zone to be part of the ever-changing technological landscape.
Michaels passion for technology and helping others understand how it can enhance their lives urged him to start a podcast of his own about accessible technology. Through ACB Community, Michael and a friend host Unmute Presents, where they address a wide variety of questions anywhere from changing the VoiceOver speaking rate to JAWS compatibility with Windows 11. This Community call, along with other content he produces throughout the week on radio shows and meetings, become episodes of a podcast called Unmute presents. You can learn more about Michael’s podcast here:
https://unmute.show/ When Michael is not creating content or coaching others, he spends time with his wife, children, and retired guide dog. He loves the show Highjack on Apple TV Plus with audio description. Even when not working with technology directly, it is always part of his life, helping him stay organized and making the world more accessible to him in his daily life. As technology continues to develop and change the way our society functions, we can all learn something from Michael’s inquisitive attitude about how to use technology to enrich our lives.