(NCAT) appointed a new Chief Executive Officer
The National Centre for Accessible Transport (ncat) is pleased to announce that Emma Partlow has been appointed as its new Chief Executive Officer. Emma joins ncat from her role as Director of Engagement and Policy at Transreport, where she played a central role in developing inclusive transport solutions globally. Emma possesses extensive expertise in both accessibility and transport, having devoted her career to enhancing travel experiences for disabled people. She was named among the UK’s most influential Disabled People in the Shaw Trust Disability Power 100 (2024) for her significant impact on the transport sector, and her leadership has driven advancements in both technology and policy to make travel more equitable. Emma’s leadership style is characterised by a distinctive combination of personal experience and deep expertise in global policy and legislation in relation to accessibility. Throughout her career, she has championed co-production, ensuring that disabled people are central to the decision-making processes that impact their lives. By integrating her lived experience with rigorous, evidence-based research, Emma has consistently worked to dismantle systemic barriers and challenge entrenched attitudes, resulting in meaningful and measurable improvements in accessibility. Her inclusive and collaborative approach has been key to driving progress in accessible transport and influencing industry practices on a global scale. Keith Richards, Chair of the ncat Board, said: “Emma’s appointment marks a pivotal moment for ncat. Her deep understanding of the barriers people face when trying to access transport, and her proven ability to build partnerships across sectors will be invaluable as we continue to work with all our stakeholders to collectively push for transport systems that are inclusive for everyone.” As an evidence centre, ncat is committed to commissioning its own high-quality research, as well as gathering and compiling evidence from a very broad range of sources. Its works by explaining how the evidence highlights the barriers that people face, and by convening and enabling key stakeholders and decision-making across UK government, industry, and society to work together to remove those barriers. Its vision is to inform future disability and transport strategy, policy, and practice, contributing to a barrier-free transport system. Emma Partlow, incoming CEO of ncat, said: “I am honoured to be appointed as CEO of ncat at such a pivotal time for accessible and inclusive transport. I look forward to working closely with our partners, funders, and communities to ensure that accessibility is embedded as a foundation, not an afterthought in the design and delivery of transport services and solutions. Through co-produced research and evidence-led approaches, ncat will continue to shape industry decision-making and drive lasting, systemic change.” ncat is funded by the Motability Foundation, a charity that invests in support, transport programmes and research which are critical to giving disabled people in the UK the ability to get around. Lisa Jones, Chief Operating Officer at Motability Foundation, said: “The Motability Foundation believes that all disabled people should be able to make the journeys they choose, and we look forward to working closely with ncat and Emma Partlow as they gather the evidence and insight the sector needs to inform a more inclusive transport system.” Emma will officially assume her role on 24th November 2025.
AccessAble Celebrates 25 Years
AccessAble, the UK’s leading provider of detailed accessibility information, is celebrating its 25th anniversary with the AccessAble Ignite Awards. For 25 years, AccessAble has been at the forefront of transforming the way disabled people access information about places and spaces. Partnering with over 500 clients and trusted by more than 6.2 million disabled people, AccessAble has become a cornerstone of the accessibility sector. The company’s mission is grounded in one simple principle: to ensure disabled people have the information they need to confidently access the world around them. “Listening to the community is the beating heart of AccessAble. We co-produce our service alongside the people who use it. Authenticity, trust, and meaningful impact are what matters to us. This milestone anniversary is the perfect moment to not only reflect on how far we’ve come but also to celebrate by investing back into the disability community.” said Dr. Gregory Burke, Founder of AccessAble. AccessAble’s Core Values: Community, Co-Creation, and Authenticity What sets AccessAble apart in the accessibility sector is its unique approach to service design. The company has consistently placed community involvement at the heart of its work, ensuring that the solutions it provides are not only relevant but also deeply responsive to the actual needs of disabled people. Central to this approach is its commitment and investment in surveyor-led assessments. Through co-production, where disabled people actively contribute to the design and shaping of services, AccessAble ensures that its offerings are both effective and authentic, truly reflecting the voices of those it serves. In addition to providing critical accessibility information, AccessAble works closely with its clients to offer expert accessibility advice. This ensures that clients not only meet accessibility standards but take proactive steps to create truly inclusive environments. “As an organisation, we’ve chosen to celebrate our 25th anniversary by investing directly into the disability community—because our success is intrinsically tied to theirs,” said Burke. “We believe in empowering disabled entrepreneurs, recognising their contributions, and amplifying their voices through the AccessAble Ignite Awards. This is our way of giving back, and it’s rooted in our values.” The awards will raise awareness of disability innovation in all fields, not just accessibility, providing a platform for disabled entrepreneurs to showcase their work and inspire others. The AccessAble Ignite Award 2025 The AccessAble Ignite Award is designed to give a disabled entrepreneur the springboard for success. The winner receives a 12-month mentorship programme, a cash grant of £25,000 to support their business growth, and the opportunity to build entrepreneurial skills and business aspirations. AccessAble is proud to announce Gwendoline Thornton, founder of Spoonfullness, as the winner of the AccessAble Ignite Award 2025. Gwendoline stood out to the judges with her problem-solving skills, authenticity, and mission to empower disabled people in the kitchen. Her business, Spoonfullness, tackles everyday challenges such as cooking, shopping, and cleaning, while giving people the tools and confidence to take control of their nutrition. The Next 25 Years: Leading the Charge for Accessibility and Empowerment As AccessAble celebrates its 25-year journey, it marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter. The company’s commitment to empowering disabled people and creating a more inclusive world is stronger than ever. “We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished in the last 25 years, but our work is far from done,” said Gregory Burke, Founder of AccessAble. “Empowering disabled people with the right information is at the heart of everything we do. Our mission has always been to ensure that every disabled person, regardless of where they are, has the tools they need to navigate the world with confidence and independence. As we expand our reach both across the UK and internationally, our goal is to continue leading the way toward a more inclusive, accessible future for everyone. We are committed to ensuring that the voices of disabled people are not just heard but are actively shaping the world around us.” www.AccessAble.co.uk
London travel easier for disabled passengers
New map integrates iconic design with real-world access data across the capital’s transport network. Snowball, the accessibility app known as the “TripAdvisor for the disabled community,” has launched a new step-free access map for the London Underground and Overground networks, now live within the app. The map builds on the iconic Tube diagram and includes essential accessibility information for every station, helping disabled users plan and navigate journeys across London in just two clicks. Designed specifically as an accessible, step-free travel map, this new version simplifies the journey planning process by using a clear visual system: stations marked in green offer full step-free access from street to train, while stations in orange indicate that some assistance from staff may be required. Developed using Transport for London’s (TfL) open data, and designed in the instantly recognisable style of Harry Beck’s world-famous Tube map, the new feature reimagines one of the most celebrated transport diagrams in the world through the lens of inclusive access. The map includes clear, easy-to-read symbols that show stations with full step-free access from street to train, as well as those that may require assistance to reach the platform or train. It also includes airport access points, interchanges with London’s bus network, and the IFS Cloud Cable Car, offering a complete picture of transport options available to disabled users. Importantly, all station opening times are displayed, allowing users to plan their journeys with maximum flexibility. This new feature sits within the Snowball app, which also includes a traffic light-style accessibility system to rate each station based on real-world experience. These ratings were personally created by Snowball founder Simon Sansome and his team, who visited and assessed every station to ensure accuracy and reflect practical, on-the-ground realities. Simon Sansome, who is a wheelchair user himself, created Snowball to make accessibility accessible. By integrating transport data with real-life insights, Snowball allows users to plan their entire journey, from street to station to venue, within a single app. Users can check access information for both transport routes and destination venues, helping to reduce anxiety and eliminate the need to rely on multiple resources when planning a trip. “The London Tube map has helped millions find their way around the capital, and now it’s doing the same for the disabled community,” said Simon Sansome. “We’ve designed it so anyone can instantly see which stations are fully accessible, which may require assistance, and how to plan with confidence from start to finish.” In the UK, 16 million people are disabled, with 13.2 percent of Londoners identifying as disabled. While TfL continues to improve accessibility across the network, with 93 step-free Tube stations, more than 60 step-free London Overground stations, and full step-free access on the DLR, trams and Elizabeth line, journey planning can still be complex. Snowball aims to simplify this process, offering greater independence and control to disabled passengers across the capital. The new map complements TfL’s existing accessible travel tools, including the TfL Go app and services like Turn Up and Go. By integrating open data into Snowball’s platform, this launch brings together venue accessibility, journey planning, and real-time updates into one user-friendly experience. Snowball is available to download for free on both Apple and Android devices. Snowball is a free mobile app that assists disabled people in finding accessible businesses and services. The app is available for download on both Apple and Android devices Google Play Store: Snowball Community – Android
Dyslexia Awareness Week
Discovery Education Supports Pupils with Dyslexia Through Adaptive, Multisensory Learning Resources Discovery Education, the creator of essential learning solutions used in classrooms around the world, has made available a collection of tools and features within its high-quality digital resources to support pupils during Dyslexia Awareness Week and beyond. Available via Discovery Education’s four award-winning DoodleLearning maths and English programmes – DoodleEnglish, DoodleSpell, DoodleMaths and DoodleTables – these special features and tools engage and empower pupils with dyslexia, whether learning at home or in the classroom. Dyslexia Awareness Week – which begins on 6th October – is an annual event organised by the British Dyslexia Association. This year’s theme, ‘Dyslexia: Raising the Volume’, aims to increase public understanding and shine a light on issues affecting people with dyslexia. Discovery Education’s DoodleLearning programmes incorporate a range of features that are highly supportive for pupils. These include: The DoodleLearning apps combine visual, audio and interactive elements to explore topics in Maths and English Lessons are broken down into small manageable steps, reducing cognitive overload and removing barriers to learning for pupils who struggle with processing speed DoodleLearning has a built-in audio dictation tool, to enable pupils to listen to questions and concept explanations and learn at their own pace DoodleSpell supports spelling through repetition and structured learning, which is beneficial for pupils with dyslexia Doodle’s programmes personalise content based on ability, ensuring that each child is working at the right level. This helps pupils to build confidence without feeling overwhelmed Rewarding effort over ability, Doodle uses stars, badges, streaks and games to motivate pupils and make learning fun Charity Lisko, Discovery Education’s Vice President forInternational Product, Curriculum and Content said: “Discovery Education is proud to support the growth and development of primary school pupils throughout Dyslexia Awareness Week and beyond. We challenge ourselves every day to design programmes that empower teachers to engage every child in their learning journey.” Explore Discovery Education’s award-winning digital learning services at www.discoveryeducation.co.uk Find out more about Dyslexia Awareness Week here.
Groundbreaking Research Project
Designability Seeks Six to Eight People with Lived Experience of Disability to Join a Groundbreaking Research Project National charity Designability is inviting six to eight individuals with lived experience of disability to join an exciting new research project as Lived Experience Advisors. Whether you are a disabled person, an unpaid carer, or a parent or carer of a disabled child or adult, Designability wants to collaborate with you on an innovative study focused on disability, independence, and inclusive design. This is a paid opportunity to help inform the design of more inclusive products and services through a better understanding of the everyday barriers that can affect independence for disabled people. The project runs from September 2025 to the end of 2026, and participants can choose how they’d like to be involved. This could be through online workshops, one-to-one chats, or by providing written feedback. The team will work flexibly to support each person’s access needs and preferences. As part of the role, Lived Experience Advisors will contribute to designing research questions and materials, reviewing documents, testing tools, and helping to share the findings. This could include writing blogs, joining events, or creating short videos, with full support from the Designability team. Each Advisor will be paid £25 per hour, with an estimated total of £775 for their time. Any extra activities, like creating blogs or videos, will be paid for separately. If participants receive welfare benefits, they are encouraged to seek guidance, and Designability can offer information and signposting to relevant resources. Jim Bowes, CEO of Designability, said: “Everything we do at Designability is shaped through the voices and experiences of disabled people. Becoming a Lived Experience Advisor for our new research project will help to inform our priorities over the next 3–5 years and support our goal of making accessible design the norm. This is an opportunity to help shape how we work and to share the issues that matter most to you.” Designability welcomes applications from individuals across the UK. To apply, please visit: https://designability.org.uk/news/were-looking-for-people-to-become-our-lived-experience-advisors/ Applications are now open until 20th October. http://www.designability.org.uk/
Donald Trump announcement about autism
Mel Merritt, Head of Policy and Campaigns at the National Autistic Society said: “This is dangerous, it’s anti-science and it’s irresponsible. President Donald Trump is peddling the worst myths of recent decades. Such dangerous pseudo-science is putting pregnant women and children at risk and devaluing autistic people. “Let’s be clear – painkillers do not cause autism and vaccines do not cause autism. Large-scale studies have shown that there is no robust, scientific evidence to support this claim. It’s nothing more than fearmongering. “The incessant misinformation about autism from President Donald Trump and Robert F Kennedy Jr risks undermining decades of research by respected experts in the field. “Understandably, autistic people will be dismayed and frightened by this announcement, and we would urge our Government and the NHS to stand by autistic people and to condemn this misinformation. To do otherwise risks creating further fear, stigmatisation and harm. “We urge anyone looking for information about autism to visit websites from trusted organisations such as the NHS and the National Autistic Society.” https://www.autism.org.uk
SEND Crisis Report
The National Autistic Society is calling for the Government to incorporate the findings from the Education Committee’s Solving the SEND Crisis Report into its upcoming SEND reforms, including: Mel Merritt, Head of Policy and Campaigns at the National Autistic Society, said: “This Committee is clear – the SEND system is broken and unsustainable. Autistic young people and their families desperately need reform so they can get the education they need and deserve. The committee provides achievable steps to fixing the system and the Government should adopt these in the upcoming SEND reforms, particularly increasing accountability across the whole system so that children’s needs will be met regardless of whether they have a diagnosis or Education, Health and Care Plan. Reforms will only be effective if young people, parents, carers and other key stakeholders are actively and meaningfully involved throughout the whole process.” The National Autistic Society is the UK’s leading charity for autistic people. We are here to transform lives, change attitudes and create a society that works for autistic people. Since 1962, we have been campaigning for autistic people’s rights and providing support and advice to autistic people and their families. To find out more about the charity and autism, visit www.autism.org.uk Follow the National Autistic Society’s social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, LinkedIn and YouTube.
New seat and toilet scheme
As part of work to make York more accessible, City of York Council and 55 city-wide partners are launching a scheme to give more people a seat or toilet. ‘For Your Convenience’ partners display stickers in their windows. These invite customers and visitors who have a disability, a long-term health condition or frailty, to use the locations’ seats and/or toilet without obligation or the need to make a purchase. This improved scheme follows feedback from a consultation by City of York Council about wider accessibility improvements across the city, and discussions with the toilet stakeholder group. Feedback on the previous ‘Take A Seat’ scheme run by charity Home Instead, suggested that locations could be easier to identify, that more information was provided around accessibility, and that we encouraged more businesses to take part. Scheme participants are each given window stickers to display at ‘For Your Convenience’ locations. They were designed in consultation with York Accessibility Forum, Age Friendly York and York BID, and were checked against new accessibility criteria. The stickers indicate the facilities each site offers. They include: Cllr Jenny Kent, Executive Member for Environment at City of York Council, said: “We are committed to making York a welcoming, accessible city for all. We’ve listened to York people and businesses, expanding the scheme to include public toilet provision and baby changing facilities. “York’s Medieval footprint can be challenging, and we are delighted but not surprised that many generous local businesses and sponsors are willing to offer free rest and toilet facilities to help make our City easier for everyone. We’d love to hear from any organisations who would like to join the scheme.” Dr Ashley Fisher, Chair of York Disability Rights Forum said: “In a city like York, being able to access things like chairs and accessible toilets is vital for disabled people as they go about their lives. “We at the York Disability Rights Forum welcome the For Your Convenience scheme and encourage businesses to take part, creating a more inclusive and convenient environment for all residents and visitors.” The print costs for the new stickers are being met thanks to valued sponsorship by Healthmatic who maintain the city’s public toilets, and by The York BID who deliver projects and improvements that enhance the city centre. Full details of partners, locations, accessibility and facilities are now hosted at www.livewellyork.co.uk/FYC Any business or organisation in York which would like to join the seat and toilet scheme and support accessibility in York, can find out more at: www.livewellyork.co.uk/FYC or email: cycaccessteam@york.gov.uk.
Action needed to make car clubs more accessible
A series of actions that would make car clubs across the UK significantly more accessible for disabled people have been set out in a landmark report.Among its recommendations are discounted rates and flexible cancellation policies to encourage take-up, as well as a trial of a range of adaptations to car club vehicles.It calls for better support for car clubs from government, through the introduction of new policy and funding streams which would help widen access. The report, entitled Keys for All, also proposes a major awareness-raising campaign and improvements to car club websites and apps so they are easier to use.Its findings follow the first ever in-depth investigation into the barriers facing disabled people in accessing car clubs, with the aim of making them more inclusive. The project was carried out by Collaborative Mobility UK (CoMoUK), the national shared transport charity, in partnership with transport research consultancy TRL.It was grant-funded by the Motability Foundation, whose research has shown that disabled people make 25 per cent fewer journeys than non-disabled people, with almost no improvement in the past decade. The report sets out a vision for inclusive car clubs, where staff would be equipped with the knowledge and skills to provide high-quality support for disabled people.It proposes a pilot which would test out ways of making car clubs more attractive for disabled consumers, such as more flexible cancellation policies. This could include access to a shorter cancellation window of up to two or three hours before a booking, recognising the unpredictable nature of certain impairments.The pilot would also trial a discount system for disabled users, ideally linked to existing disability passes, as well as simpler and more accessible pricing. The report also highlights the need to increase awareness of car clubs among disabled people, explaining how they work and pointing out their benefits.It proposes a “full audit” of the accessibility of car club websites, apps, and communications so they are optimised for disabled people, and specialist training for car club staff. It also calls for better information about the accessibility of car club vehicles to be made available by operators, as well as backing the rollout of a wider range of adapted vehicles over the longer term.Other potential improvements include a service allowing car club vehicles to be delivered to users’ homes and collected at the end of their booking, as well as an option for the use of alternative drivers such as a carer, friend, or family member. The findings come after CoMoUK and TRL carried out a comprehensive evidence review of the barriers facing disabled people in accessing car clubs.They engaged with operators, local authorities, disability charities and disabled people’s organisations, as well as surveying disabled users. It is hoped that the recommendations will widen access to car clubs, which have more than 870,000 members across the UK and carry a wide range of benefits.Previous research by CoMoUK has highlighted how the schemes help people save money at the same time as cutting road congestion and improving air quality.However, the market share of car clubs remains limited and disabled users remain in the minority, with little research done into the barriers that they face until now. Richard Dilks, chief executive of CoMoUK, said: “We are pleased to have delivered the first ever in-depth investigation into car club accessibility, bringing together the needs of disabled people with the views of operators.“This groundbreaking report shows that while the barriers facing disabled people in accessing the schemes are significant and challenging, they are not insurmountable. “We knew from the outset there would not be a ‘one size fits all’ solution, but we have set out a range of clear actions that are needed to make car clubs more inclusive.“While operators clearly have a big role to play, the onus is also on government to create new policy and funding streams, which are needed to deliver the proposed pilot projects.“We would like to see an annual summit bringing together car club operators, local and central government and disability organisations, helping to turn this research into action.” Dr George Beard, head of new mobility at TRL, said: “This report lays the foundations for making car clubs more accessible for disabled people, but we are keen to ensure that the work doesn’t stop here.“We have set out a number of recommendations for how to turn this in-depth research into real-world action. “Among key next steps are implementing pilots of inclusive car clubs, which will provide an opportunity to fully test the various solutions we have set out in this report for addressing the barriers faced by disabled people.” Chelsea Fleming, programme director at the Motability Foundation, said:“We are proud to have funded the Keys for All report, which shows the potential for car clubs to support accessible journeys for disabled people. “At the Motability Foundation we believe that disabled people should not be held back from participating in society because they are unable to make a journey, so research like this is crucial in highlighting how we can build transport equity.” https://quantumcommunications.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c17c136fc126588cb51e5471d&id=23b8001089&e=95c8a0dc87