Ather Sharif

Dr. Ather Sharif is a Researcher, Software Engineer, Author, and Disability Advocate. He received his Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Washington in 2024. His research focuses broadly on human-computer interaction and specifically on the intersection of accessibility, visualization, and customization. The main objective of his research is to make data visualizations accessible to screen-reader users. His work has been published at top-tier academic venues and received several accolades and recognition from several media outlets, including the Philadelphia Inquirer. As an expert in data visualization accessibility, he is currently working on a research monograph on this topic, which will be published by Springer in 2025. He is also a Principal Associate at Capital One and the Founder of EvoXLabs, an initiative dedicated to bridging the gap between technology and people with disabilities. He has pioneered several initiatives, including the evoHaX Hackathon, Accessible World Conference, and UnlockedMaps. Through his initiatives, he is dedicated to increasing the accessibility of information technology and the full participation of people with disabilities in computing.