Disability is truly the mother of invention
My overarching mission is to bring more lived disability experience to mainstream design, and more thoughtful design to accessible experiences.
Connecting Dots — A Blind Life
A memoir by Joshua A. Miele with Wendell Jamieson
About Josh Miele
Joshua A. Miele is a blind scientist, designer, author, and disability scholar.
He writes, advises, and collaborates widely on accessible design, disability-inclusive research methods, and the disability experience, often with emphasis on blindness and low vision.
Projects and Collaborations
I’ve been incredibly lucky to find amazing people to dream and collaborate with. Here you can read more about some of my past and present projects and partnerships.
Connecting Dots and Related Events
Find out more about Josh’s memoir, Connecting Dots, as well as a calendar of up-coming speaking engagements related to the book.
MieleLab Blog
Personal and professional musings on disability, accessibility, and design, as well as reports from my own blind experience.
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Getting Started — Learning About Disability Basics
Sometimes it’s hard to know where to get started learning about a complex topic like disability. If you haven’t had exposure to disability, or if you are just beginning to think about it in your own life, There can be a lot of confusing and conflicting messages. History, literature, and popular culture offer quite a […]
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Working with Wood
Most of the accessibility work I do is digital in one form or another. It’s satisfying to create digital experiences, but they usually lack a certain concrete durability. Maybe that’s why one of my favorite hobbies is woodworking.
Upcoming Events
Joshua’s work bridges technology and disability, striving for accessibility across all aspects of the digital and physical world.
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Josh Miele gets twelve minutes of fame on The Moth Mainstage in-person at Symphony Space in New York City. Before a live audience, and without notes or props, Josh will record a story from his memoir, Connecting Dots – A Blind Life, for distribution on The Moth Radio Hour and Podcast. Don’t miss it!
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In conversation with friend and co-author, Wendell Jamieson, Josh Miele returns to his Park Slope roots to discuss his memoir, Connecting Dots – A Blind Life. This homecoming book talk will feature in-depth discussion, audience Q&A, and book signing. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to engage with Josh, Wendell, and many of the characters from the memoir at the Community Bookstore just blocks from where it all began.
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In conversation with friend and Contra Costa County Librarian, Alison McKee, Josh Miele will discuss his memoir, Connecting Dots – A Blind Life. Conversation will focus in particular on the role of libraries and librarians throughout the author’s life and career. In addition to the on-stage interview, the event will include audience Q&A, book signing, and a reception generously hosted by the Friends of the Orinda Library. Fans of libraries and librarians won’t want to miss this one!
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Connecting Dots comes to the Berkeley Public Library, featuring an extraordinary interview, audience Q&A, and book signing. Books will be available for purchase at the event.
This time, Josh will be in conversation with colleague, friend, and highly-respected disability-rights lawyer, Lainey Feingold. Lainey is the author of Structured Negotiation, A Winning Alternative to Lawsuits, now in its second edition. Their fascinating and far-reaching conversation will connect dots from both of their careers building on the history of disability and technology in Berkeley, weaving in threads from Josh’s memoir. You really don’t want to miss this one!
MacArthur Fellowship Award
The MacArthur Fellowship award celebrates individuals who demonstrate extraordinary creativity, significant accomplishments, and the promise of future impactful work.
Josh’s recognition by the MacArthur Foundation underscores his groundbreaking contributions to accessibility, supporting blind and visually impaired (BVI) individuals in accessing information and everyday technologies. His work crosses traditional lines of accessibility, focusing on practical, affordable, and readily available solutions.