Eric Bridges to Join Aira Advisory Board
Our CEO, Suman Kanuganti, on Eric Bridges:
Eric is a consummate leader and played a major role in the passage of the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010, which paved the way for advancements in accessible mobile communications like those leveraged through Aira. We’re fortunate to be able to welcome him to Aira as the newest member of our Advisory Board where he’ll use his expertise to advance our efforts in exploring the role technology plays in breaking down barriers to access.
Eric Bridges’ Bio:
Eric Bridges is executive director for the American Council of the Blind, a leading national grassroots consumer organization representing people who are blind and visually impaired. A recognized voice at the intersection of technology and accessibility, Eric was a lead contributor in the passage of the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (CVAA). The CVAA harmonized telecommunication technologies within the disability rights sphere, paving the way for advancements in accessible mobile communications like those leveraged through AIRA. While at ACB, Eric has significantly grown the organization’s portfolio of partnerships with leading technology companies and developers, positioning ACB as a leader in expanding independence and equality for Americans who are blind through furthering the role technology plays in breaking down barriers to access.
Like many sports enthusiasts raised in the Midwest, Eric is an avid Cubs fan, and he regards their recent World Series pennant as a metaphor for AIRA’s innovative solution for social inclusion: “When I was a blind teenager 20 years ago, the idea of being dialed into the visual world that surrounds us seemed as far off as the Cubs winning another World Series. Fast-forward to today, and not only does a pennant hang now over Wrigley Field in Chicago, but AIRA allows anyone who is blind to feel like they are completely part of the game, wherever one chooses to go.”
Eric received a bachelors in journalism from the University of Iowa. He currently lives in Arlington, Virginia with his wife Rebecca and young son Tyler.
