Interview with Elysia Everett Burns, Founder of "Friendly Like Me" Accessibililty App

Special Ed Rising; No Parent Left Behind

In this episode I’ll be speaking with Elysia Everett, Founder and CEO of Friendly Like Me, Inc. She and co-founder, Dave Jensen, created Friendly Like Me to improve accessibility in public places and to make accessibility information easier to find—so more people can take part. FLM connects individuals with “friendly” places that can accommodate the unique needs of people living with non-average bodies in a built-for-average world. Friendly Like Me is the first-of-its-kind mobile app and web platform helping users find accessible options for traveling, dining, entertainment, self-care/wellness, and healthcare providers that meet their unique access needs.

Elysia is a technologist and activist with over 25 years of leadership in business and information technology. She has experience in all areas of IT and Leadership with special interests in teams, coalitions, strategic execution, communications, and cultural transformation. Importantly, Elysia has lived with obesity for most of her life—thereby experiencing a full spectrum of weight bias and stigma, difficulty gaining access to proper healthcare, and discrimination. She is currently focused on building Friendly Like Me into a company that successfully and substantially improves the experience of “joining in” for people living at higher weights and people with disabilities.

https://www.friendlylikeme.com/