My work sits at the intersection of accessible technology, public policy, and elite athletics. My writing and media coverage span national journalism, federal policy proceedings, and international sport — documenting both lived experience and systems-level change.
Media Coverage
This section highlights media coverage of my work in accessibility, inclusive technology, and disability advocacy, as well as my career as an athlete.
How a Former Paralympian Tackles Tech With the Same Tenacity That Won Her Gold Forbes
A deep-dive interview connecting my background as a Paralympian with my current work in accessibility-driven technology and product building.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevenaquino/2024/10/11/how-a-former-paralympian-tackles-tech-with-the-same-tenacity-that-won-her-gold/
Meet the Team That Makes It Possible for the Blind to Use Facebook
WIRED
A feature story using my experience as a blind Facebook user to explain how accessibility teams build empathy into engineering and product design.
https://www.wired.com/2015/02/meet-team-makes-possible-blind-use-facebook/
Seattle’s Free 2 Fly run club fills a gap for visually impaired runners
Seattle Times
A long-form story on Seattle’s Free 2 Fly run club and guided running—including my perspective as a blind runner and Paralympic gold medalist.
https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2025/sep/12/seattles-free-2-fly-run-club-fills-a-gap-for-visua/
Uber Does Not Have Enough Wheelchair-accessible Vehicles
San Francisco Chronicle
Coverage of litigation and policy pressure around wheelchair-accessible ride-hail options; includes a statement attributed to me as ILRC-SF Executive Director.
https://www.sfchronicle.com/business/article/Uber-does-not-have-enough-wheelchair-accessible-12714533.php
Lyft Sued by Disability Advocates Over Wheelchair Access
San Francisco Chronicle
Reporting on disability advocates’ claims regarding wheelchair-accessible ride options; includes a quote attributed to me as ILRC-SF Executive Director.
https://www.sfchronicle.com/business/article/Lyft-sued-by-disabled-advocates-over-lack-of-12750101.php
Jessie Lorenz of SF’s Independent Living Resource Center discusses its mission
Comcast “Newsmakers”
Short TV interview segment about disability advocacy and independent living work.
Disabled Parking Rule Change Recommended
SF Gate
Coverage of proposed reforms to disabled parking/placard rules; includes quotes attributed to me about incentives and access.
https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/disabled-parking-rule-change-recommended-4527162.php
Advocates for the Disabled Say Free Parking for Placard Holders Must End
Streets Blog SF
Transportation-policy context and quotes around disabled parking placards and street access in San Francisco.
https://sf.streetsblog.org/2013/05/20/advocates-for-the-disabled-say-free-parking-for-placard-holders-must-end
People with Disabilities Sue BART for Discrimination
Disability Rights Advocates
Press coverage connecting elevator infrastructure failures to civil rights enforcement.
https://dralegal.org/press/people-disabilities-sue-bart-discrimination/
Rights Groups Sue BART Over ‘Filthy’ Elevators, Broken Escalators
SF Gate
Mainstream media coverage of elevator accessibility litigation and transit equity.
https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Rights-group-sues-BART-over-filthy-11052756.php
Creature Comforts
Forum on KQED
Radio panel discussion where I appear as a guest (then noted as Public Policy Director at LightHouse) in a conversation about service animals and public policy.
https://www.kqed.org/forum/906190900/creature-comforts
Signals to Guide Blind at Crossings in Works / Settlement with Advocacy Groups Sets Up Project
SF Gate
Early coverage of Accessible Pedestrian Signal implementation featuring my advocacy for safe street navigation.
https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/san-francisco-signals-to-guide-blind-at-2585324.php
Sounds of Success / Sunset woman helps team win world title in sport for blind athletes
SF Gate
Early sports feature on goalball and elite blind athletic competition, written as a narrative profile.
https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Sounds-of-Success-Sunset-woman-helps-team-win-2765094.php
USABA’S 45-for-45 Anniversary Series: Episode #35 – 2008 USA Women’s Paralympic Goalball Team
US Association of Blind Athletes
Archival team coverage from my elite competition years.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lsdfn8gk1XA
Published Articles
Over the years I have written articles about accessibility, technology, and disability culture. These pieces reflect my interest in how thoughtful design and emerging technologies can create more inclusive experiences for everyone.
Rethinking Sidewalk Scooter Safety
The Seattle Times
An op-ed on public safety and urban access op-ed addressing sidewalk mobility, pedestrian rights, and disability access in shared public space.
https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/before-you-drop-that-scooter-think-about-who-else-uses-the-sidewalk/
Incentives Offered by ADA Should Be Everyone’s Concern
San Francisco Examiner
An op-ed about how the Americans with Disabilities Act serves as a vital civil rights tool, and warning that proposed legislation could weaken enforcement and reduce accessibility.
https://www.sfexaminer.com/our_sections/forum/incentives-offered-by-ada-should-be-everyone-s-concern/article_a3f5b405-208a-5353-b20f-99c0b1d6f71a.html
We Cannot Allow Narrative Against Disabled People to Become Mainstream Again
San Francisco Examiner
An op-ed arguing that society must actively resist the resurgence of prejudicial narratives that frame people with disabilities as burdens or tragic figures rather than equal partners.
https://www.sfexaminer.com/our_sections/forum/we-cannot-allow-narrative-against-disabled-people-to-become-mainstream-again/article_d87e56e4-dad1-5344-be90-c59b9b26dba9.html
Opening Doors for Parents with Disabilities
San Francisco Examiner
An op-ed arguing for dismantling systemic and physical barriers that prevent parents with disabilities from fully participating in their children’s lives and the broader community.
https://www.sfexaminer.com/our_sections/forum/opening-doors-for-parents-with-disabilities/article_bc172d49-a3fe-59ca-a402-a0552abe0a94.html
BART’s Fleet of the Future Leaves Some Behind
Disability Visibility Project
Originally published in the San Francisco Examiner, and republished by the Disability Visibility Project. A transportation equity op-ed examining elevator access, ADA compliance, and the real-world impact of inaccessible infrastructure.
https://disabilityvisibilityproject.com/2014/12/05/opinion-piece-by-jessie-lorenz-barts-fleet-of-the-future-leave-some-behind/
LinkedIn Writing
I regularly write on LinkedIn about accessibility, artificial intelligence, and product design. These posts explore how emerging technologies such as voice interfaces and multimodal AI can transform the way people interact with information and the world around them.
Access is not accommodation. It is durability engineering.
Post about disability encountering system friction and how that signals design weakness.
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/jessielorenz_i-just-set-a-new-pr-in-a-5k-at-my-run-club-activity-7433165831196336128-W3aq?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAHMWtgB93CPXumazpFrUQSGPjayQdus_q8
Cognitive load is the hidden accessibility tax.
Post about vibecoding an app to help lighten this load on disabled users.
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/jessielorenz_seahawks-superbowl-vibecoding-activity-7427402437784678400-g7Up?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAHMWtgB93CPXumazpFrUQSGPjayQdus_q8
Making a way for others is what we should all hope to be remembered for.
Post about getting to chat about Braille with Bill Gates and memorializing my mentor, Herb Levine.
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/jessielorenz_microsoftlife-activity-7293674273318002688-nqnk?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAHMWtgB93CPXumazpFrUQSGPjayQdus_q8
I’m a Blind adventure hound and a total tech nerd. Here’s my gear.
Post kicking off a 3 day, cross-country train ride from NYC to Seattle with my daughter, in which I detail the assistive tech I used to navigate and enjoy the beauty of nature on the journey.
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/jessielorenz_day-1-my-ai-powered-journey-begins-nyc-activity-7279509978917285889-NRoS?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAHMWtgB93CPXumazpFrUQSGPjayQdus_q8
Interviews
DVP Interview: Jessie Lorenz and Herb Levine Jessie Lorenz
Disability Visibility Project
Excerpts from a StoryCorps conversation about disability rights history and independent living movement organizing.
https://disabilityvisibilityproject.com/2015/03/05/dvp-interview-jessie-lorenz-and-herb-levine/
Podcasts
Assistive Technology
Disability Visibility Project Podcast
Alice Wong, Lateef McLeod, and I discuss assistive technology, barriers to access, and tech’s real-world impact.
https://disabilityvisibilityproject.com/2017/10/01/ep-3-assistive-technology/
Productivity Tools Blind Executives Use
Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired Podcast
A practical conversation on productivity systems and apps blind professionals use (calendaring, notes, workflows), with a concrete list of tools.
https://old.lighthouse-sf.org/2014/06/02/blind-executive/