Access denied: Navigating the city with safety, dignity and joy

Talk

Tuesday 28 October 2025
09:00 - 10:00

Join this Breakfast Talk to explore how we can make better design decisions to have a better city for all.

In 2008, TFL introduced priority seating to support pregnant women, Disabled people and older customers. In 2023, RIBA introduced the Inclusive Design Overlay to the RIBA Plan of Work, to ensure inclusion is considered at every stage of the design and construction process. But despite these milestones, why can’t Disabled and Deaf people freely navigate the city, with comfort, ease and joy, and why, in an aging society and growing number of Disabled and Deaf people, are our urban environments still lagging behind or placing sole emphasis on active travel and design features that exclude, not include.

This event starts with the lived experience of Disabled and Deaf people, and the barriers frequently faced when it comes to navigating our cities, buildings and public spaces, and how the actions we can take to do better as an industry. Together, we’ll explore the impact of creating genuinely inclusive spaces, what happens when inclusivity remains an afterthought and how better design decisions for Disabled and Deaf can benefit everyone using our city.

Speaker biographies

Chris Laing

Architectural Designer and Founder, Haworth Tompkins

Jordan Whitewood-Neal

Co-Founder and Design Think Tank Co-Lead, Dis and London School of Architecture

Gobi Ranganathan

Principal Engineer, NRP (Norman Rourke Pryme)

Tricia Smikle

Head of Programmes, RNIB

Eliza Grosvenor

Head of Public Programme, NLA

Venue

The London Centre
3 Aldermanbury
London
EC2V 7HH

Accessibility

There are two ways of entering the London Centre: either up 3 steps with a handrail on either side, or via a platform lift. There are gender-neutral and accessible toilets on the lower ground floor, which can be accessed via a flight of stairs.

This event will be BSL interpreted.

If you would like more information about the space, or have any further access requirements, please let us know how we can best accommodate these, by emailing events@nla.london.