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About Access Hound

The leadership team of Access Hound has collaborated on hundreds of accessible-media projects for more than 20 years. They are the creative force behind the national and international award-winning UniDescription project, which they researched and developed while running a successful Seattle-based web development company, Montana Banana. Their work has produced hundreds of accessible websites and mobile apps for organizations across dozens of sectors, including many nonprofits.

Brothers Brett and Joe Oppegaard, along with trusted partner Stewart McCullough, share leadership roles. Brett, a former journalist and university professor with a Ph.D. in technical communication and rhetoric, provides both practical and scholarly expertise in media accessibility. Joe, a veteran computer programmer and adaptive CTO, contributes deep computer-science experience and the ability to deliver innovative accessibility tools tailored to any need. Stewart, the CEO, keeps the big picture in focus amid a rapidly changing media environment, ensuring strategic direction, operational agility, and a service-oriented approach aligned with client goals.

Bringing together a broad community of cross-functional partners, the Access Hound team has led accessibility initiatives throughout the United States and internationally, including in the United Kingdom, Canada, and Italy, on a mission to co-create a more accessible future, with all descriptions reviewed and validated by representative audience members before release, ensuring that human sensibilities remain at the center of every description.

Access Hound CTO Joe Oppegaard, with smartphone in hand, at the base of the Acropolis in Athens, Greece, testing our Audio Description systems. Joe is wearing a black shirt and dark sunglasses, contrasting with his blond hair and white earbuds, which are connected to his smartphone, as he listens to content on the phone underneath the massive marble columns at the remains of the Parthenon. The Access Hound team has worked with the University of Piraeus in Athens to audio describe parts of the Acropolis as well as various other major public attractions around the world.

Access Hound CTO Joe Oppegaard, with smartphone in hand, at the base of the Acropolis in Athens, Greece, testing our mobile AD systems for their worldwide as well as localized impacts.

Brett Oppegaard is shown in portrait, from the waist up. He is a white male, with short brown hair. He is wearing a blue collared shirt, with a lanyard around his neck, indicating conference attendance. He is standing at a podium facing an unseen crowd and gesturing with open arms. He has a computer in front of him.

Access Hound Founder Brett Oppegaard presenting global-leading research at The Advanced Research Seminar on Audio Description (ARSAD) in Barcelona, Spain.

Stewart McCullough, left, one of the co-founders of Access Hound, stands in the Microsoft Inclusive Tech Lab facing collaborator Jeff Abrams, who is blind and accompanied by a guide dog. McCullough and Abrams are both white skinned and wearing a shorts and a t-shirt. McCullough's shirt is white, with tan shorts, and Abrams is wearing a tie-dyed shirt with black shorts. McCullough has a baseball hat in his hand, and Abrams is wearing one. Abrams also is wearing a pair of Meta Ray-Ban glasses, which have technology that helps him to gather information about the place he is in, like this lab. His dog is black and is wearing a harness with a rigid handle that Abrams is holding. In the background, there are various gadgets that were designed to make more-accessbile computing, such as adaptive joysticks and mice. Also in the background is Charles Beall, the superintendent of Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, who came to the lab with the Access Hound group. Beall is wearing a collared dark-green NPS shirt, with black pants. He is white, with short brown hair, glasses, and a full beard. He is looking over the gadgets on the table.

Access Hound CEO Stewart McCullough and AD Specialist Jeff Abrams collaborating while at the Microsoft Inclusive Tech Lab in Seattle, WA, U.S.

A venture from the team behind UniDescription and Montana Banana

90+

Peer-reviewed (and invited) papers, posters, and formal presentations about Audio Description, locative media, and inclusiveness.

$1.5 MIL+

In federal & corporate grant support for our team, including from the NPS, NEH, NEA, and Google.

~ 200+

Public attractions using our AD software and services, including National Park Service sites.

Our Leadership

In this small vertical portrait, I am shown from my shoulders up to roughly the middle of my forehead. I am a 54-year-old American man, white in the abstract but with ancestral origins in the United Kingdom and Norway. Indicating those roots visually, I have blue eyes, a pinkish-tan skin with a red undertone, and dark brown hair. My hair is short on the sides but kept long on the top, showing some waviness to it. I do not have any facial hair beyond my eyebrows. The collar of my light-blue and patterned Aloha shirt shows just above my dark-blue suit jacket. On the UH campus, Aloha shirts are common, and almost no one wears a tie. So I’m dressed for that work environment. I am looking directly into the camera and expressing a subtle smile, with my lips slightly upturned at the corners. I am hoping to convey warmth and friendliness while still maintaining an authentic facial expression.

Brett Oppegaard, Ph.D.

Founder | Executive Director

Joe Oppegaard

Founder | CTO

Stewart McCullough

Founder | CEO

Our Team

AD Researchers and Vocal Performers

A light-skinned black man with curly salt and pepper shortcropped hair, beard and moustache, sits wearing a black crewneck sweater. He wears a slight smile, with his head slightly tilted to the side.

Bill Larson

AD Vocal Performer

New Jersey, U.S.

This photo shows a woman sitting on a chair with a neutral facial expression in a room. She has long dark hair pulled back, and is wearing a sheer magenta cardigan over a floral dress with shades of pink, purple, and white. She is wearing stud earrings, a necklace and a nose ring. The background appears to be a soft blended green, adding a formal portrait effect to the photo.

Dr. Sajja Koirala

Lead AD Researcher and Consultant

Ohio, U.S.

A Caucasian male of about 50 years old, with short brown hair that is graying. He is smiling and looking directly at the camera. He has blue eyes. The hood and plaid lining of a tan-colored coat is visible, as is the collar of an orange undershirt and a darker top on top of that.

Matt Bullen

Lead AD Researcher and Consultant

Washington, U.S.

A woman with long brown hair and straight-cut bangs smiles warmly at the camera. She is shown from just below the shoulders up and positioned slightly off-center in the frame, with her dark hair swept over one shoulder. She is outdoors in golden sunlight, standing in front of softly blurred autumn leaves in shades of yellow and gold. She wears a red jacket over a white lace top. The lighting highlights her hazel eyes and creates a natural, welcoming expression.

Samantha Damiano

AD Vocal Performer

Canada

Front facing head and shoulder picture of a woman, Black, very short hair (almost buzz cut), dark fuchsia framed glasses with glitter side frame, medium build. Four silver studded earrings on each ear. Full big smile!

Tutu Erikitola

AD Vocal Performer (Native London Accent)

Canada

Lead AD Specialists

Anesadora Hightower

Lead AD Specialist

Washington, U.S.

This is a picture of Brandon Biggs smiling. He is a white male with brown hair and blue eyes in his late 20s. His lips are slightly parted and he has a brown goatee and mustache about 4mm long. He is wearing a blue button-down shirt with his arms straight down at his sides. The photo stops at his chest. The background has a few green plants, and a white wall behind the plants.

Brandon Biggs

Lead AD Specialist

Georgia, U.S.

Myself, a blonde woman, wearing a pink shirt.

Cindy LaBon

Lead AD Specialist

Washington, D.C., U.S.

A photo of a woman with long strawberry blonde hair, wearing a long sleeve dark top with thin white stripes. Sitting next to her is a black and tan German Shepherd guide dog in harness. Behind them is a lit and decorated Christmas tree.

Dawn Carello

Lead AD Specialist

Arizona, U.S.

Debbie Grubb

Lead AD Specialist

Florida, U.S.

This is a horizontal color image of a woman and a golden retriever. Debee, the middle-aged woman, has brown hair with streaks of silver running back from her brow and sprayed through her short bangs. She is wearing a white and gray striped long-sleeved button down shirt worn open over a purple scoop-necked top. She sits on a wooden park bench, behind which is a stone wall and garden of ivy. A lanyard is around her neck and the end is thrown over her right shoulder. A black belt around her waist has a metallic carabiner with a pink, plastic, spring coiled bracelet and a blue plastic training clicker dangling from it. She grins at the camera, her eyes are crinkled up at the corners and she has laugh lines around her slightly open mouth. In Debee's right hand is a leather leash that crosses her body towards her left side where Memphis, a large golden retriever sits, enjoying Debee's left hand petting him. Memphis's head is tilted slightly to one side, looking directly at the camera. His snout is tipped by a black nose and long whiskers grow out from either side of it. He is covered in long yellow, white and gold fur and his long tail extends below the edge of the bench out of frame.

Debee Armstrong

Lead AD Specialist

California, U.S.

The photo shows María from the neck up looking at the camera. She has short brown hair, an oval face and is wearing a dark colored shirt.

Dr. Maria Joaquina Valero Gisbert

Lead AD Specialist

Italy

Hello, I am Jane Manley based in Surrey UK. I am a white, older female with thick tousled messy straw blonde hair the upper strands of which are held back from my face with a green satin bow just showing over the dome of my head. I have pinkish cheeks a gentle smile and am wearing a white broderie top.

Jane Manley

Lead AD Specialist

London, U.K.

A middle-aged white male with peppered gray hair, which is shining in the sunlight. He is wearing a black t-shirt.

Jeff Thom

Lead AD Specialist

California, U.S.

Jolie has fair skin and long brown hair.She appears to be late middle age. Her hair is pulled back tightly from her oval shaped face. She is smiling and her eyes are crinkled as she smiles. Jolie is wearing a white sweatshirt decorated with some autumn leaves. The background has a silver and copper metal screen.

Jolie Mason

Lead AD Specialist

California, U.S.

A vertical photo shows me, a 67 year old woman who is hard of hearing and blind. I'm smiling and sitting on a bench wearing a teal blue polo shirt. I have medium length curly brown hair.

Lolly Lijewski

Lead AD Specialist

Minnesota, U.S.

This photo captures Louise on a windswept day at Peggy’s Cove Lighthouse Trail in Nova Scotia, 2025. Her grey hair dances in the ocean breeze as she smiles toward the camera, a moment of quiet joy against the timeless beauty of the coast. Dark sunglasses frame her expression, and a fine silver chain catches the light at her neckline. Dressed in a striped white, blue, and navy top, she stands among the weathered boulders, where a narrow ribbon of grass winds its way through the rocks. The scene reflects both the strength and serenity of the landscape, and of the woman standing within it.

Louise Gillis

Lead AD Specialist

Canada

Pat Sheehan smiles and faces the camera in this portrait, which has a blurred background, indicating a setting of trees and green foliage. That setting is near a visitor center at Rock Creek Park in Washington, D.C. Sheehan is shown roughly from the belt up. He is wearing a black and collared polo shirt with the top button open, a black leather belt, and jeans. Sheehan has his arms comfortably crossed in front of him, with his right hand holding his folded-up white cane, and his left wrist displaying an Apple watch with the time in large numbers reading 12:35. Sheehan is a white man with gray stubbly hair on his head and a friendly expression on his face.

Pat Sheehan

Lead AD Specialist

D.C., U.S.

Photo shows Renee, an African American woman, with kinky curly black shoulder length hair and light brown complexion. This is a head and shoulder shot with her looking directly at the camera as she smiles. She has sunglasses perched on her head and is wearing a black top with colorful embroidery along the front neckline. She is wearing a silver necklace that has a stone hanging from it. In the background is a sunny but somewhat cloudy sky and some buildings.

Renee Arrington-Johnson

Lead AD Specialist

Ohio, U.S.

This photo shows Robyn Hughes in front of a white background facing the camera with her head slightly tilted left, smiling. She’s wearing a royal blue suit jacket over a black shirt. Her dark brown hair is cut in a short bob style.

Robyn Hughes

Lead AD Specialist

D.C., U.S.

Caucasian woman of average height, hazel eyes, brown hair with blonde streaks wearing a shirt and decorated jeans with bright pink athletic shoes.

Rosemarie Facilla

Lead AD Specialist

Michigan, U.S.

Adult, woman with braids, smiling, holding the handle of her white cane.

Shawntina Gibson

Lead AD Specialist

Louisiana, U.S.

Shirley is seated in front of a plain background on a couch with her guide dog seated in front of her left knee. Her right hand is on the right knee and the other is around her dog’s neck. She is 69, has very light skin, shoulder length hair with bangs and is wearing a heavy sweater, long pants and walking shoes.

Shirley Manning

Lead AD Specialist

California, U.S.

A young white woman stands, smiling, arms crossed, in front of a yellow canola field. The woman has thick glasses, a faux leather jacket, and green sweater.

Talea Anderson

Lead AD Specialist

Washington, U.S.

I'm Vickie Kennedy, and this image shows me from the shoulders up. I'm wearing a three-quarter-sleeved blouse that alternates between light- and dark-green vertical stripes, with a gold necklace featuring a turtle shape highlighted with a black pearl where the shell would be. I'm 79 years old, 5-foot-2, and of mostly Japanese descent with a hint of French and English. I have short silver-black hair, and I'm giving a neutral expression but feeling powerful and at-peace on the inside.

Vickie Kennedy

Lead AD Specialist

Hawai‘i, U.S.

AD Specialists

This photo is of me and my black lab guide dog, Iowa. We are posed in front of my house beside a purple-flowering rhododendron on a bright, sunny day. I am smiling and wearing a short-sleeved gray shirt. I have light skin and my shoulder-length curly brown hair is accented with gray around my face.

Annie Chiapetta

AD Specialist

Pennsylvania, U.S.

A smiling adult man is pictured from the shoulders up, standing in front of a painted brick wall. The photograph is well-lit, highlighting his face and white collared shirt. His expression is friendly and relaxed.

Grant Matthews

AD Specialist

South Africa

With bright sunlight coming from her right and illuminating her face, Jane Carona smiles slightly in this portrait, with her lips pressed together but also with a slight upturn on their edges. She is shown from roughly the shoulders up. Carona is a white woman with short silver-black hair that curls inward roughly at her earlobes. She is wearing a pink t-shirt with colorful palm trees on the front. She also has a gold chain around her neck that holds a circular golden medallion. The background of this image is blurred, but it suggests that the photo was taken outdoors, because of the green foliage behind her. This setting was near a visitor center at Rock Creek Park in Washington, D.C.

Jane Carona

AD Specialist

D.C., U.S.

Centered in the frame, a white male in a hat sits with his chin propped on relaxed hands, while he looks directly into the camera. He wears a dark, tweed flat cap and delicate gold-rimmed glasses, framing blue eyes. He has a white beard and mustache and is dressed in a checked shirt of muted gray tones.

Jeff Abrams

AD Specialist

Washington, U.S.

A totally blind white male in his mid-30s is pictured from the shoulders up. He has a slender build and short brown hair. On his right, light shines through a window with opened blinds. A framed picture of a gull is on the wall behind his left side.

Lucas Cain

AD Specialist

South Carolina, U.S.

The image shows a smiling woman with medium-dark skin and her hair pulled back. She is wearing a black jacket over a white collared shirt. She has small earrings and a necklace visible around her neck. The background is plain white, making her the clear focus of the image. Her expression is friendly and confident, and she appears to be formally dressed, possibly for a professional or official photograph.

Nell Anthony

AD Specialist

U.S.

A woman is standing on a wooden deck with a black metal railing that has decorative elements. She has long, straight, light brown hair and is smiling. She is wearing a light green, short-sleeved, patterned knit top, a navy blue skirt with a floral pattern in various colors, and black sandals. She has a pink beaded necklace and a black watch on her left wrist. The background is filled with lush green trees and a blue sky with some clouds, suggesting a pleasant, sunny day.

Sheri Richardson

AD Specialist

Washington, U.S.

A vibrant portrait of a cheerful British woman in her 40s with a glowing complexion. She has brown hair neatly tied up and captivating dark brown eyes that sparkle with warmth. Her bright, radiant smile, accentuated by soft pink lip gloss, conveys happiness and confidence. She is wearing a floral top and small diamond earrings that add a touch of elegance and sophistication, set against a softly lit background.

Sophia Curtis

AD Specialist

U.K.

Sylvia appears in a professional head shot. Sylvia has on a black suit, with a purplish blouse. Sylvia has long wavy light brown hair. The hair and make up appear to be professionally done. Sylvia has a slight smile on her face.

Sylvia Perez

AD Specialist

Florida, U.S.

A Portrait style picture. A light white skin woman with dark brown shoulder length wavy hair. She has dark brown eyes and is wearing a sleeveless black dress.

Toni Tesfaye

AD Specialist

Illinois, U.S.

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