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Gallaudet University’s Motion Light Lab Founder Melissa Malzkuhn Named to Inaugural The Accessibility 100 List by Forbes
Malzkuhn honored as one of the top innovators and impact-makers in the field of Accessibility; Recognized for championing Deaf youth literacy through visual storytelling and technology.
WASHINGTON, June 17, 2025 — Melissa Malzkuhn, Founder and Director of Gallaudet University’s Motion Light Lab, has been named to the inaugural The Accessibility 100 list by Forbes for her leadership in creating immersive learning experiences that empower Deaf children and advance inclusive innovation. Announced today during the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, the list honors 100 global impact-makers across more than 15 countries who are transforming the field of accessibility.
Forbes’ first-ever Accessibility 100 highlights the biggest innovators and impact-makers in the field of accessibility for people with disabilities. Malzkuhn was named to The Accessibility 100 for her work in communication. According to Forbes, “increasing disabled people’s ability to communicate with others is probably the most vital—and exciting—sector in accessibility today.
“The core of this work is about our humanity. I honor the richness of Deaf experiences and the Deaf way of being, which have shaped how I innovate, educate, and connect,” said Melissa Malzkuhn, Founder and Director of Gallaudet University’s Motion Light Lab. “It’s an incredible honor to be recognized by Forbes in its inaugural list celebrating leaders in accessibility. Through visual storytelling, I strive to empower Deaf youth and create spaces where our stories are seen, valued, and understood.”
Motion Light Lab, based at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., is a leading research and innovation center dedicated to transforming learning experiences for Deaf children through creative technology, linguistics, and visual storytelling. With only 3% of Deaf children worldwide receiving education in sign language, the Lab is focused on closing this critical gap by developing bilingual ASL-English storybooks, educational apps, XR experiences, and research-backed literacy tools. Its accessible, embodied learning resources aim to ensure all Deaf children—and their families—have access to sign language from birth, laying the foundation for lifelong literacy, education, and well-being.
Malzkuhn is a visionary leader in Deaf media and technology. She is the co-founder and producer of The ASL App, a widely used tool for learning conversational American Sign Language. She launched the Hu – To Sign is Human campaign, using screen printing as a medium to advocate for sign language access. As a co-founder of the CREST Network, she works to bridge the gap between sign language technologies and the Deaf community. Currently, she is spearheading the development of the first 3D animated children’s series featuring Deaf signing characters, brought to life through motion capture technology.
“Accessibility is a fascinating space that has never been captured like this before,” says Alan Schwarz, Forbes Assistant Managing Editor who spearheaded the project. “There are lone innovators, juggernaut tech companies, startups. They are revolutionizing how people get around, learn, communicate, work, play sports, travel, and so much more. Their impact on people’s lives is monumental – and will only be getting more so soon.”
A third-generation Deaf leader, Malzkuhn grew up in a vibrant Deaf community in the Bay Area, shaping her lifelong commitment to language equity and innovation. In addition to being named to The Accessibility 100, she is a recipient of the prestigious Elevate Prize, which honors social impact leaders driving transformative change around the world. Also named to The Accessibility 100 were her colleague Dr. Christian Vogler, Professor and Director of Gallaudet University’s Technology Access Program, and Gallaudet University itself—highlighting the institution’s global leadership in advancing accessibility and inclusive innovation. Together, their work continues to break barriers and build a more inclusive future for the Deaf community and beyond.
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About Motion Light Lab
Motion Light Lab is a Deaf-led creative research lab based at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., powered by an all-Deaf team. The Lab designs sign-centric, immersive learning experiences that span from bilingual ASL-English storybook apps supporting early literacy to cutting-edge 3D signing characters developed through motion capture technology. With a focus on original storytelling content, centered around the Deaf experience, Motion Light Lab strives to support and advance sign language accessibility and acquisition while creating meaningful opportunities for Deaf communities through media, education, storytelling, and innovation.
For more information, please visit https://motionlightlab.com/.