Learning to See Differently: Why I’m Deepening My Understanding of “Accessibility”

As someone who has spent nearly a decade working in humanitarian funding and inclusive program development, I’ve often been in rooms where inclusion is a top agenda. We talk about equity, participation, and reaching the most vulnerable. But, increasingly, I’ve been drawn to reflect on one critical piece that often lingers at the periphery of these conversations: Accessibility.

Back in 2022 I began exploring UX and digital accessibility, diving into frontend computer programming. It was exciting practicing (and honestly, nerve-wracking!) to practice how simple HTML & CSS commands could shape how people interact with content. I still remember how proud I was testing out my first image with Alt Text; <img src="your_image.jpg" alt="A descriptive text about the image." /> hahaha, for a moment I was a proud ‘big baby’ and it felt good!

Now I’ve comeback to this exploration, this time, with a broader and more intentional lens; contextualizing everyday realities. It’s a learning journey I’m embracing with curiosity, not certainty, and with a strong desire to apply what I discover in ways that support ongoing work across sectors of the humanitarian space, in governance and business contexts.

Why Accessibility?

Accessibility is more than a design principle. It’s a commitment to ensuring that environments, services, information, and opportunities are usable by everyone, especially persons with disabilities.

In humanitarian programming, we often (and rightly) focus on inclusion. But true inclusion cannot exist without accessibility. It’s the foundation that determines whether people with disabilities can meaningfully participate in and benefit from the services we design; from emergency shelters to education programs, from radio broadcasts to mobile apps.

As I’ve deepened my learning, I’ve come to see accessibility as something that must cut across physical, social, and digital spaces. In today’s increasingly digitized humanitarian response, where registration, case management, training, and communication are often done through digital platforms, accessibility must be intentionally built into digital tools and interfaces. A visually impaired person navigating a disaster response app, or a Deaf woman trying to access GBV referral information, should not be an afterthought.

Accessibility needs to be embedded at every level, from policy to practice, from global strategy to the layout of a handwashing station in a rural community, and even the code that powers the digital tools we deploy.

Why This Matters

I still remember visiting a rural village where mothers carried babies on their backs across dusty, narrow paths to reach the nearest clinic. At 6 a.m., a health worker named Mariam would walk 10 kilometers to see just a handful of patients. One day, something changed, a motorcycle was donated. Suddenly, Mariam and others could reach more people. Mothers no longer had to choose between going to the farm and getting care for their children. That single shift transformed both Mariam’s service and the lives of those she served.

These are the moments that stay with us. They remind us that everyone, no matter where they live, deserve full access to community life.

Where Accessibility Shows Up — and Where It Often Doesn’t

Accessibility should be embedded across every layer of development and humanitarian programming, not as an afterthought, but as a core design element. Some considerable questions:

• Built environments: Are schools, health facilities, or water points physically accessible to people with limited mobility, vision, or sensory processing needs?
• Digital tools and platforms: Can screen reader users navigate digital reports, community feedback portals, or mobile apps without barriers? Are alternative formats provided?
• Health programming: Are frontline health workers trained to communicate with people with intellectual, cognitive, or hearing disabilities? Are services respectful and responsive to diverse needs?
• WASH programs: Do latrines and handwashing stations accommodate people with physical disabilities or caregivers supporting children with mobility challenges?
• Policy and governance: Are local or national strategies aligned with global accessibility standards like the CRPD? Does the organization have an Accessibility policy that is strictly followed? Is accessibility a non-negotiable part of procurement and budgeting?

These are not abstract considerations. They directly influence whether interventions succeed or silently exclude the very people they’re meant to support.

Our Shared Journey

Whether you design playgrounds, write policy, develop health programs, or envision better public transport, your work connects to this vision.

I’ve learned so much while building the KidsABILITY Initiative—from teachers who find creative ways to include every student, to parents who thoughtfully adapt their homes to foster independence for children with disabilities.

During travels abroad, I’ve also met city planners in small towns who prioritize walkways for parents with strollers and people using canes. These seemingly small choices reflect a deeper truth: accessibility benefits everyone.

Your perspective matters. What have you seen in your field?

Maybe you’ve seen an office install a ramp, and suddenly grandparents and parents can attend meetings comfortably.
Maybe your community introduced audio announcements on buses, allowing blind passengers to travel confidently. Or perhaps you implemented recommendations from an accessibility audit of your e-commerce site and suddenly your orders tripled.

Each of these changes, big or small, even those in low-resource settings reflects what’s possible when we design with everyone in mind.

An Evolving Career Lens

While I remain deeply committed to my work in funding and inclusive programming, I believe that growing my knowledge of accessibility strengthens my contributions in that space. It allows me to ask better questions, advocate more effectively in proposal development, and think more holistically about implementation realities.

In my view, accessibility is not a niche concern, it’s a cross-cutting issue that deserves greater visibility in everything from proposal templates to government-led service delivery.

Exploring, Learning, and Sharing

Over the coming months, I’ll be deepening my knowledge of accessibility. I’m exploring frameworks like the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), reading up on universal design, and learning from architects, technologists, and advocates who have spent years working in this space.

And while I don’t have all the answers, I believe that learning out loud can be powerful. I hope to occasionally share insights, questions, and resources that may be helpful to others working in humanitarian action, disability inclusion, policy development, or project implementation.

If you work on accessibility in any form; built environment, public policy, community engagement, tech design, or inclusive WASH and health programs, I’d love to connect. I’m especially interested in how accessibility is practically implemented in resource-constrained settings, and how government systems can be supported to improve infrastructure and service delivery for all citizens.

This is not just about compliance. It’s about dignity, participation, and justice.

Let’s keep learning together!

– Deborah Brown Majekodunmi