Dr Leda Kamenopoulou and contributors examine the barriers, technologies, and design decisions that can either enable or restrict participation in education, work, and society.
Accessibility is often viewed as an additional feature rather than a fundamental requirement, yet for people with deafblindness it can determine whether participation is possible at all. In this episode, a disability advocate and an accessibility researcher and designer share their lived experiences and professional expertise to explore the realities of navigating a world that is not always designed with sensory diversity in mind.
The discussion considers everyday barriers encountered in communication, public services, social activities, and physical and digital environments, while reflecting on the opportunities and limitations of assistive technologies.
The conversation also challenges listeners to think beyond individual accommodations and towards inclusive design from the outset. By exploring deafblindness as a diverse spectrum of experiences, the episode highlights how small but intentional changes can have a significant impact on access, participation, and belonging.
Drawing on perspectives from advocacy, research, and user experience design, the discussion offers practical insights into how organisations, educators, designers, and policymakers can move from awareness to action and create environments that work for everyone.
Full show notes: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/news/2026/oct/deafblindness-and-accessibility-are-we-including-everyone-inclusive-voices-deafblindness
Image: New Africa via Adobe Stock.
More IOE Insights podcasts: https://uclioe.info/podcast
UCL Institute of Education: https://ucl.ac.uk/ioe
