Glider Spotlight: Meet Darryl Adams, Former Director of Accessibility at Intel

In this monthly series, we're putting the spotlight on our Gliders community to celebrate individuals who inspire us. This month, we're highlighting Darryl Adams, a pioneering leader in accessibility, AI, and inclusive technology, with a distinguished 28-year career at Intel where he served as Director of Accessibility.

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Thanks for joining us, Darryl! Let's start with an easy one: Where do you live?

I live in Portland, Oregon. My wife and I grew up in Tucson, Arizona and once we were engaged we decided it was time to move to a place that actually experiences four seasons.  We chose the Pacific Northwest because we both love the ocean and the mountains and it's simply a beautiful place to live!

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Tell us a bit about what do you do for work, or what a big passion / hobby of yours is!

I spent 28 years at Intel where I was the Director of Accessibility.  I left Intel at the end of September 2024 and I am now consulting organizations on accessibility and disability inclusion strategies and assistive technology innovation.  Outside of work, my wife and I spend time travelling and going to concerts and sporting events.  Highlights include seeing U2 perform at Sphere in Las Vegas and visiting Paris last year just before the opening ceremonies of the Olympics.

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What's a typical day like for you, Darryl?

Since leaving Intel, I'm trying to avoid my old pattern of sitting in front of my computer all day - every day.  I'm doing this by prioritizing physical activities like walking, running or Peloton workouts. And, I'm finding new ways to learn and work that don't involve sitting at my desk. I'm creating new habits using conversational AI so I can make progress throughout the day while taking more time to do the things I enjoy.  It's an incredible time to be exploring new ways to work with technology and have technology work for us.

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If you could have any superpower, what would it be?

100% flying. As a kid, I would jump off my roof with a makeshift parachute.  I've always wanted to be able to fly - no cape required.

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What is your favorite podcast?

Double Tap is a daily listen for me.  It's the kind of conversation that makes me want to unmute my mic and join in! I have RP so I find the conversations deeply relavant.  Armchair Expert is also a favorite.  And. to fuel my inner-nerd, I also listen to half-a-dozen AI podcasts on a regular basis. Oh, and Acquired is really good as well.

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What's one accomplishment or thing in life that you are most proud of?

It's hard to pinpoint a single moment, but I am quite proud of my career and the way I consistently created work environments where my teammates felt they could thrive.  There is something really powerful about putting people first.

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What's one or two lessons you've learned in life that you'd like to share?

A key life lesson for me is directly related to my vision loss journey.  Early on I felt like my vision loss was my problem to deal with, and I didn't want to burden others with my issues. I was confuing the idea of needing help with being helpless.  Over the years, I've learned that being open and honest about my challenges and being more comfortable asking for help when needed is incredibly useful and I've completely removed that burden I was carrying. I now make so many great connections with people through sharing my story.  It brings us closer and it's often an opportunity to educate people about blindness. I wish I would have sorted this out many years before I actually did.

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What's one big question in life, work, or society that's been occupying your mind lately?

I think a lot about the rate of technological change we are experiencing as a society and how best to navigate these changes both as individuals and collectively. The big challenge I'm spinning around on at the moment is the idea that that the rate of change itself seems to be rapidly increasing as well. So, when the future arrives this quickly, how do you plan for it?

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What's got you most interested in Glide?

I love spending time outdoors and experiencing new things, so I'm very excited to how Glide can more effectively get me where I want to go with a greater sense of independence and confidence. I'm really looking forward to mastering the airport experience with Glide!

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Thanks so much for sharing your story, Darryl! We're thrilled to have you as part of the community, and appreciate all of the support, feedback, and input you've given us over the past year!

Feel free to connect with Darryl Adams here, or learn more about his life and work on a recent interview with the AXSChat Podcast here!

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