“Pathways Academy has opened my eyes to the many physical barriers disabled people face in the built environment, as well as the barriers in digital spaces, including accessing websites,” says recent Pathways Academy graduate, Sarah Hill.
Pathways Academy is the Centre for Accessible Environment’s free training programme designed to help disabled Londoners, aged 18 and over, kickstart a career in access and inclusive design. The programme is funded by the City Bridge Foundation.
Sarah, 38 – who is neurodivergent and lives with invisible disabilities – admits she was completely new to inclusive design before she applied for Pathways Academy a year ago.
With a background in fine art and administration, she has worked for the past 6 years as an access support worker for neurodiverse and disabled artist clients. She credits Pathways Academy with helping her progress into a new career.
“Pathways has helped me transition into a new industry, which I wouldn’t have known how to navigate on my own. It’s given me a solid foundation in inclusive design and a platform to jump off into the next stage of my journey,” Sarah says.
Introduction to accessibility
During the beginning of the Covid 19 pandemic, Sarah was introduced to accessibility for disabled people as part of her training to be an access support worker. She joined online webinars, user testing and focus groups, which gave her an awareness of how bad and good accessibility can affect someone’s quality of life and opportunities.
After hearing about Pathways from a past student, Sarah was immediately interested. She attended an online taster session, which she describes as “helpful and informative”, and then applied for the September 2024 course.
The programme
She says she enjoyed the programme’s blend of online and in-person sessions, as they allowed her to access learning around other commitments, while also providing the chance to meet course participants face-to-face.
Pathways Academy students receive 22 days of training over 9 months through a mix of in-person and online sessions. The course covers a different topic each month including Principles of Inclusive Design, Access Auditing, Digital Accessibility, Design and Neurodiversity, Accessible Housing, Access to Historic Environments and more.
Students also develop the all-important communications skills to help them use their new technical knowledge, through topics like presentation and training skills and how to write reports.
“There was a great atmosphere and energy when we had the in-person sessions,” she says. “It was lovely to meet the trainers in real life, too, and get to know everyone on the course.
“The Pathways trainers and participants were all supportive and welcoming, which made it a positive experience. I really liked the practical session where we walked around a building measuring and observing its features in small groups.
“And I also liked learning about neurodiversity as the topic resonated with me.”
Sarah believes that her neurodiversity has given her understanding of the importance of equality in daily life.
“I’ve spent a lot of life feeling like an outsider looking in, so I don’t like others being or feeling excluded. I’m keen to be part of the bigger fight towards better access and inclusion in wider society.
“I like work that encompasses social impact, have a keen eye for detail, am good at observing and problem solving, have patience and like things to be right. I thought these qualities might work well with access auditing.”
Learning to see spaces through an inclusive lens
It’s clear that Pathways Academy has transformed the way Sarah sees the built environment.
“I now think more holistically about spaces being inclusive for all kinds of people who might visit, such as people of different faiths, LGBTQIA+, older people, as well as being safer for women,” she says.
“I still have a lot to learn and need to gain hands-on experience, but the course is a great first step into the field. It has been a safe space to ask questions, be part of group work, and learn from everyone else’s lived experience.”
Next steps
Sarah is busy networking and looking for work shadowing opportunities and work placements/internships in the access field. Her aim is to work towards an National Register of Access Consultants (NRAC) accreditation.
Her advice to anyone considering Pathways? “Go for it, it’s a great opportunity… there’s a lot to learn from the staff and peers, everyone is supportive of each other, and all the subjects are interesting and different each month.”
To find out more about the programme and how to apply, see the Pathways Academy video and Pathways Academy page, or email pathways@cae.org.uk.