My name is Krishna, and my journey with launching Access Bay Area is deeply personal. A rapid, unexpected, and profound hearing loss silenced my life almost overnight. Afraid and confused, I quickly discovered how inaccessible the world can be for people with disabilities. Early on, I didn't know how I would raise my young daughter without the ability to hear people’s voices. And then it hit me. I realized that the same trailblazing grit and determination that had propelled me to succeed as a hearing person would be the same qualities I'd harness to make my world, our world, more equitably accessible. I began researching and learning everything I could about building accessible environments, including understanding different disabilities, accessibility and universal design principles, and accessibility-related standards, laws, and management strategies. From that pivot, my passion project, Access Bay Area, was born.