Inclusive by Design Webinar

Published 1st May 2025

Yesterday we delivered a webinar featuring speakers from our latest issue of Designing magazine. The webinar introduced various products and initiatives designed to inspire attendees about how to integrate inclusivity in D&T classrooms.

Key Speakers:

Paul Woodward (D&T Association) kicked off the webinar by discussing how design is fundamentally about finding solutions to problems that can enhance people's lives. Paul showcased tools like the Braille Box, which supports students with visual impairments. The session highlighted how such inclusive design practices can be integrated into D&T lessons.

Dave Williams (RNIB) a spokesperson for Braille 200, shared his personal journey with braille technology. Dave explained how braille has evolved. He shared heartfelt stories about how braille helps individuals maintain their independence, such as reading bedtime stories in braille. His insights emphasised the importance of braille resources for students with visual impairments and introduced RNIB’s educational resources.

Jason Yeung (PrintLab Co-Founder) introduced the Make:able Challenge, a global competition that empowers students to design assistive technologies using 3D printing. Jason discussed how this initiative encourages students to create practical, real-world solutions for people with disabilities and how it can be seamlessly integrated into the D&T curriculum. The Make:able challenge provides an exciting opportunity for students to engage in hands-on design experiences that make a difference.

José Castejón Gálvez (NaviLens) offered an overview of NaviLens, an innovative tool that helps people with low vision or blindness navigate their environment using QR-like codes. José explained how NaviLens codes can be used in educational institutions, providing free resources for both teachers and students to enhance accessibility in the classroom.

Lol Conway (D&T Association) wrapped up the webinar with a valuable session on making D&T classrooms as inclusive as possible. She presented a variety of resources and practical ideas for teachers to incorporate into their classrooms, ensuring that all students, regardless of their abilities, can fully participate in D&T lessons.

For those who missed the live session, the full webinar is available here: Inclusive by Design Webinar.

This event was an excellent opportunity for teachers to learn about the latest innovations in inclusive design and how to apply them in their teaching practice. It highlighted the importance of empathy, creativity, and collaboration in making design education accessible for all.

Featured in the Latest Issue of Designing 130

All the speakers were featured in the latest issue of Designing 130 magazine. To download your copy of Designing 130 (free for members of the Association), visit the following link: Download Designing 130 Online PDF.