Dialog with Dave

David's audience members all gain a new friend from the moment he enters a room.

David is passionate about making a difference. He recently took on the role of Accessibility Specialist in the Civil Rights Department of the State of Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) in Austin, Texas. Since 2007, David has been a co-producer, performer, writer and promoter of The Gene and Dave Show, an often-comical glimpse into the lives and lifestyles of people with disabilities which airs on Austin’s local public access television station and worldwide via an internet site with the same name. The Gene and Dave Show has been awarded two Media awards from the City of Austin Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities and a Telly award. Their website also received a first-place award during one of Knowbility’s internet accessibility competition.

Even though David has been entertaining people from his wheelchair his whole life, working on the show raised his awareness of the importance of making all forms of public media accessible to everyone. His twenty-year career as a software engineer prepared him to make a change which better expresses his values and interests. His new position allows him to champion digital accessibility in all its forms, including closed captioning for video and universal website accessibility. David produces training videos, teaches classes on digital accessibility, and verifies the accessibility of Texas HHSC’s digital correspondence across the state.

David lives with the love of his life, Terri, and their son, Denver, in Leander Texas. He continues to co-produce The Gene and Dave Show with Gene Rodgers and be an active and respected part of the local disability community and the community at large. Acting classes and short-term work on films, commercials, and voice-over projects keep him engaged in his craft. He is available for acting and motivational speaking. David can also record voice-overs from his home recording studio.