Dr. James W. Thatcher

I met Jim for the first time in 1989 at an NFB convention in Denver. I already felt like I knew him though, since I started at IBM in 1988 as a blind software engineer. As a blind software engineer, I benefited greatly from his pioneering work with screen Readers. I was fortunate to work with him on IBM's Screen Reader, Screen Reader/2 and Home Page Reader. I was there in 1994 when he was honored by the NFB. I considered him a friend as well as a colleague, and we had many spirited...

We knew Jim through our intersecting efforts in accessibility and assistive technology, especially associated to Knowbility (AIR and AccessU) and TechLunch.

We knew him most as a judge at web accessibility "competitions". He probably knew us most as the folks with the sweet little dogs, who provided "pet therapy" to amuse, and relieve stress, during those densely-packed AIR/Austin events.

He was indeed a giant in web accessibility, in particular, and the disability community, in...