Google to Provide Tech to USABA Athletes

The U.S. Association of Blind Athletes has announced a collaboration with Google that names Google Pixel as the organization’s official global technology partner.

As part of the deal, Google Pixel will provide Pixel phones, watches, earbuds and tablets to athletes in the USABA Sport Ambassador Program, representing Paralympians and national team athletes from various sports, including goalball, blind soccer, track and field, and triathlon.

“We are thrilled to have a global technology leader such as Google supporting our sport ambassadors,” said USABA Chief Executive Officer Molly Quinn. “This collaboration will bolster USABA’s digital presence as we sculpt a future where every American experiencing vision loss can find opportunity for a healthier future through sport.”

These athletes within the blind and visually impaired community will activate their new Pixel devices on an unlimited phone plan from Google Fi Wireless to stay connected from anywhere in the world as they compete across the country and abroad and share their personal stories and experiences during their training and lives.

Among these ambassadors are five Paralympians with 11 Paralympic medals on their resumes. Athletes participating in the program are: five-time track-and-field Paralympic medalist Lex Gillette and goalball athletes Mindy Cook, Eliana Mason, Tyler Merren and Matt Simpson. They are joined by USA Blind Soccer National Team athletes Ricky Castaneda and Charles Catherine, USA Goalball National Team athlete Christian King, goalball athlete Kevin Orcel, endurance athlete Jasmine Murrell and sighted guide Cheyenne Meyer.

Ambassadors were recently trained on Pixel’s accessibility features and participated in a collaborative design session. Throughout the partnership, they will collaborate with Google to offer feedback and insights on Pixel’s assistive technology, shaped by their personal experiences using the devices. This collaboration underscores Google’s commitment to building and designing with and for the disability community.

“I’m so excited to be a part of the partnership between USABA and Google Pixel,” said Gillette. “Technology has played a huge role in accessibility and this partnership allows me and the other sport ambassadors to weigh in on the accessibility features that exist within Google’s products. A huge focus will be centered around our insights and how those insights can help create even more access for Pixel users. I’m glad we have the chance to positively influence the future of technology.”

“Google Pixel continues to advocate for equity in sports, creating new opportunities for fans to get closer to their favorite athletes and helping increase visibility of sports that haven’t traditionally been in the limelight,” said Julia Cheney, cultural marketing lead at Google. “We’re excited to continue this work with USABA, our first Paralympic sports organization, and show how technology can play a role in creating a more equitable world.”