Taylor Dorward

Accessibility Visionary & Communication Strategist

From an early age, Taylor naturally gravitated toward empathy and understanding others, but a pivotal turning point came at 18 years old when he suffered an anoxic brain injury that resulted in cortical blindness. The experience fundamentally changed how he understood the world and opened his eyes to the barriers people with disabilities navigate every day. What began as learning to adapt to his own disability evolved into a broader passion for accessibility and inclusion.

As Taylor rebuilt his life, he discovered that accessibility was about far more than technology—it was about dignity, independence, communication, and equal opportunity. One of the defining moments in his journey came when he began creating content online and realized that even small acts of sharing his experiences could help others feel seen and understood. That realization sparked a lasting commitment to advocacy and education.

Today, Taylor continues to use both his personal experiences and professional expertise to help organizations better understand accessibility from a human perspective. His journey shapes every aspect of his work, from consulting and speaking to mentoring and community-building, and fuels his belief that challenges do not define limitations—they often reveal new strengths.

Evangelism & Work

Speaking, Webinars & Podcasts

Taylor has become a recognized voice in the accessibility and business applications communities through his speaking engagements, webinars, podcasts, and panel discussions. He regularly presents at conferences such as Community Summit North America, Directions North America, DynamicsCon Live, and DynamicsCon Virtual, where he speaks on topics ranging from digital accessibility and workplace inclusion to accessible communication and disability awareness.

His presentation style blends professional expertise with personal storytelling, helping audiences connect accessibility concepts to real-world experiences. Taylor is passionate about making accessibility approachable for everyone—not just developers or accessibility professionals—and works to ensure his sessions are engaging, understandable, and actionable for audiences of all backgrounds.

In addition to conference speaking, Taylor participates in webinars, podcasts, and virtual community events, contributing to ongoing conversations around inclusion, empathy, accessibility strategy, and the lived experiences of people with disabilities.

As the host of the “Day in the Life” series on the Accessible Community Podcast, Taylor creates space for authentic conversations with individuals across the disability community. Through these discussions, listeners gain insight into the everyday realities, successes, challenges, and perspectives of people with disabilities, helping foster understanding and break down stereotypes.

Taylor views public speaking not simply as presenting information, but as an opportunity to build connection, encourage empathy, and inspire meaningful change.

Across social media platforms, Taylor regularly shares accessibility-focused educational content, including his M365 Accessibility Insights series, where he highlights both well-known and lesser-known accessibility features built into Microsoft 365 tools. His content focuses on practical usability improvements that empower both disabled and non-disabled users while encouraging organizations to think more intentionally about inclusive design.

Through speaking, storytelling, mentorship, and digital content creation, Taylor continues to advocate for accessibility not as an afterthought, but as a core part of creating inclusive communities and workplaces.

Personal Passions

Taylor’s personal passions are a major part of who he is and continue to shape his confidence, resilience, and creativity. Music has always been one of his greatest outlets, and he enjoys singing across a wide range of genres—from big band classics to modern pop, rock, and soul. Taylor often goes through phases where he has a favorite song he connects deeply with, sometimes changing day to day depending on his mood and what resonates emotionally in the moment. Currently, one of his favorites is “Break My Bones” by Matt Hansen, a song he finds deeply therapeutic to sing because of the emotion and vulnerability behind it. Singing serves as both a creative escape and a powerful form of self-expression.

He is also deeply passionate about jiu-jitsu, a pursuit that has helped him redefine what capability and confidence look like after vision loss. Through touch, movement, and awareness, Taylor has learned to adapt and thrive within a sport many would initially assume impossible for someone who is blind. The experience has reinforced his belief that limitations are often shaped more by perception than reality.

Taylor also enjoys ballroom dancing, including styles such as the rumba and Viennese waltz, where he embraces the challenge of learning through rhythm, trust, and movement. Wakeboarding at the lake provides another source of freedom and excitement, allowing him to continually push past perceived barriers.

At home, Taylor enjoys crafting cocktails and exploring mixology as a deeply creative hobby he can share with friends and family. One of the aspects he enjoys most is the experimentation and chemistry behind the process. He has spent time creating his own cocktail bitters from scratch—researching ingredients, developing recipes, combining flavors, and allowing them to infuse over time to create something entirely unique. The process of building flavors and understanding the chemical side of mixology has become both a creative outlet and a learning experience. Taylor is also currently researching and planning to eventually create his own bourbon whiskey.

He also loves collecting records and spending time with his Great Dane, Maverick.

Whether through athletics, music, creativity, or competition, Taylor is constantly drawn toward experiences that challenge assumptions, encourage growth, and bring people together.