Leading experts call for action on accessibility, speaking at Labour Party Conference event
Left to right sits Christopher Patnoe, David Padmore, Sumaira Latif, Vidar Hjardeng MBE, and Sophie from RNIB.
RNIB’s recent fringe event at the Labour Party Conference brought together a panel of experts from business and broadcasting to discuss how accessibility and inclusion can be embedded into products and services from the outset.
The event was chaired by Vidar Hjardeng MBE, Inclusion and Diversity Consultant at ITV News, and boasted a panel of Sumaira Latif from Procter & Gamble, David Padmore from ITV, and Christopher Patnoe from Google. Together, they discussed how inclusive design and early engagement with disabled people can drive innovation, improve usability, and deliver real business and social value.
The discussion focused on practical examples of accessible design, including audio description in broadcasting, inclusive advertising, and accessible packaging. Speakers highlighted how these approaches not only make products and services accessible to blind and partially sighted people but also benefit wider audiences.
Christopher Patnoe shared Google’s approach to co-designing tools such as Gemini Live and the Pixel magnifier in partnership with RNIB, emphasising the importance of collaboration and curiosity in developing inclusive technology. David Padmore discussed ITV’s expansion of audio description services, including live broadcasts of major national events, and partnerships with brands like Guinness, to deliver audio-described rugby coverage.
Sumaira Latif spoke about her work at Procter & Gamble, including the introduction of audio description in advertising and the development of accessible packaging using tactile markings and NaviLens codes. She stressed the importance of leadership support and embedding accessibility into product briefs from the start.
The event also addressed the role of government in setting standards and enforcing accessibility legislation. Our panellists called for:
- Minimum standards for accessible packaging.
- Public funding for assistive technology.
- Greater promotion of schemes like Access to Work.
Sophie Dodgeon, RNIB’s Head of Campaigns and Public Affairs, said:
“Our event reaffirmed just how essential this work is, and hearing how accessibility has been embraced in different industries was heartening. There’s a long way to go but by joining forces with government, industry, and the sight loss community, we can make sure accessibility and inclusive design isn’t an afterthought but becomes business as usual.”
