Dana Marlowe: Federal Innovator

Company: Makes technology accessible and usable for people with disabilities by auditing products and providingfeedback to manufacturers and federal agencies. Launched by Dana six years ago, the firm’s clients include Dell,Amazon, Kodak, the Kennedy Center, the Library of Congress and HHS.

Innovative project: Provides technical subject matter experts to the Library of Congress’ Braille and Audio Reading Download service. The free program provides recorded Braille books and magazines to anyone who can’t read print material. Other work has included makinghundreds of HHS documents accessible to people with disabilities and doing a year-long audit of the Library of Congress to see how accessible it is by employees and patrons with disabilities.

Innovation inspiration: Keeping up with fast innovations in technology so people with disabilities don’t get left out. 

Why this career: Grew up loving sign language and studied it and communications at a technical university. Realized how technology can be a huge game changer for people with disabilities and fell in love with accessibility, which is the “nexus where technology and disability advocacy intersect.” 

Hometown: New York

Why DC: Came after husband lost job in Austin during thetech bust and wanted to be closer to East Coast family.

First job: Mom-and-pop pharmacy clerk.

Free time: Listening to indie music, rocking out at concerts and coffee shops with friends, reading, art and travel

Family: Married 12 years; two sons (6 and 3)

Favorite vacation spot: Northwest corner of Costa Rica

Bucket list: Learn to fly a plane and traveling to countries where she doesn’t speak the language or know the food on her plate.

Daily habit: Check in with mom on Facetime or phone.

Startling facts: Her first boyfriend was the real life Adam Goldberg from the ABC TV show The Goldbergs, rides a motorcycle, and interpreted for Billy Joel in concert three times.