Meet the Creator of Apple VoiceOver: Conversation and Q&A with Mike Shebanek

It’s not often that you get to meet someone who helped create technologies that have changed lives. Mike Shebanek is one of those people, and we are excited to welcome him for a special conversation and Q&A event.

About Mike Shebanek

Mike spent 19 years at Apple (1994–2013) in several key roles, including Senior Systems Engineer, Senior Product Manager, and Product Line Manager in Apple’s Worldwide Product Marketing group. He is best known as the inventor of the VoiceOver screen reader, built into every Mac, iPhone, iPad, and iPod.

Highlights from Mike’s Career at Apple

• iMac Line: Began with the landmark Bondi Blue iMac and later worked on the iMac DV and iMac G4 (“swiveling lamp” design).
• Mac OS X & Intel Transition: Helped manage the shift from PowerPC to Intel processors, leading projects such as Rosetta, Apple Software Update, Dashboard Widgets, and Boot Camp.
• VoiceOver: Proposed and created VoiceOver, making Apple devices usable for blind and visually impaired people.
• Accessibility Leadership: Spent five years as Apple’s head of Accessibility, developing advanced accessibility features across Mac OS and iOS.
• iPad Launch: Returned to hardware marketing to help bring the original iPad and later models to market.

Beyond Apple

• Yahoo! (2013–2019): Served as Senior Director of Accessibility, making Yahoo’s apps accessible, introducing video captioning, and co-founding TeachAccess.org and the Getty Disability Collection.
• Meta (2019–2024): As Director and head of Accessibility, advanced accessibility in Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger, Oculus VR, and Ray-Ban Meta glasses.

Mike retired from Meta in 2024 and is now sharing his incredible experiences and insights with us.

Why You Should Attend

• Hear firsthand stories behind groundbreaking Apple products.
• Learn how accessibility became a core part of Apple’s DNA.
• Discover how one person’s vision shaped the way millions of people use technology today.
• Ask your own questions during the live Q&A.

📩 Please send your questions for Mike in advance to: questionsanswers@icloud.com

How to Register

Simply fill out the short form below, and we’ll email you everything you need to attend—including the Zoom link.

No membership required—this event is our way of introducing you what NMUG has to offer.

We hope you’ll join us!