June 3, 2024
A Powerful Collaboration for Inclusion
In a Forbes article by Steven Aquino, Paralympian Lex Gillette takes center stage in a groundbreaking partnership between Google and the United States Association of Blind Athletes (USABA). The collaboration showcases how Google Pixel technology is being used to improve independence and performance for blind and low-vision users—both on and off the field.
Making Pixel Devices More Accessible
Google’s recent accessibility push is not just a software update—it’s a vision for equity. Through new features like guided frame, TalkBack, and AI-powered voice recognition, Pixel devices are now more adaptable than ever for people who are blind or low vision.
Lex Gillette, a world-class long jumper and five-time Paralympic silver medalist, was chosen to help represent this movement. He shares how Pixel devices empower him to move through the world with greater autonomy—navigating daily life, managing communication, and accessing visual information through audio output.
Why This Matters to Athletes Like Lex
The Pixel x USABA partnership goes beyond product placement. It’s rooted in the idea that athletes with disabilities deserve the same level of tech support, innovation, and independence as anyone else. With tools like real-time scene description, OCR-based text reading, and accessible photo-capture technology, Lex can operate his phone in ways that many take for granted.
As he told Forbes, it's about more than function—it's about freedom.
Training, Competing, and Living with Vision
For Lex, who lost his sight at age 8, technology has always been part of his journey. But the latest advances in mobile accessibility have made even bigger leaps—similar to his own on the track. Today, Lex uses Pixel tools to manage his training, coordinate travel, stay in touch with his community, and even share moments with his young son.
His collaboration with Google isn’t just about brand advocacy—it’s about pushing forward a movement for digital inclusion.
A Model for Inclusive Design
Google’s work with USABA and Lex is a reminder that accessibility should not be an afterthought. With Paralympians like Lex leading the conversation, this partnership sets an example for how companies can build more inclusive, usable, and empowering tech for all.
Contact Lex to discuss Partnership opportunities.
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