Thomas J. Wlodkowski

Thomas J. Wlodkowski has been a leading pioneer in accessible technology or over 25 years. As a person with a visual impairment, he has served as a champion for people with disabilities, working to improve usability of mainstream Internet, mobile, broadcast and cable television technology. Under his leadership, Comcast launched Voice Guidance on Xfinity X1, the industry’s first talking guide that provides people who are blind or visually impaired with independent access to the X1 set-top box user interface, including: TV listings, the ability to manage their DVR, access Xfinity On Demand, and adjust settings. Since its launch, Voice Guidance has earned Comcast several awards, including the 2015 FCC Chairman’s Award for Advancements in Accessibility. The groundbreaking feature also sparked the award-winning Emily’s Oz marketing campaign for Xfinity.

Thomas, who previously headed accessibility at AOL, holds a BA from Boston College. He currently serves as co-executive sponsor of Comcast’s MyAbilities Network — an employee interest group for people with disabilities and their allies, created as a component of the company’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. He aims to foster a workplace that not only represents the disability community, but also understands the unique challenges faced by consumers.