This interactive panel session – hosted by Michael Larbalestier Member of the CIPD Branch in South West London and introducing Michael Osborne, Founder & CEO of Accessible Me - will explore how organisations can design learning environments that are both accessible and psychologically safe, with a particular emphasis on neurodivergent inclusion.
Through powerful storytelling, lived experience, and practical insights, the session will:
- Define psychological safety in the context of accessibility and workplace learning.
- Explore barriers faced by neurodivergent individuals and those with other disabilities during corporate training or onboarding processes.
- Showcase inclusive design principles that help teams move beyond compliance toward a culture of belonging.
- Feature multiple speakers with different disabilities sharing their lived experience in accessing learning, from digital platforms to live training.
- Offer practical tips for HR, L&D, and People professionals to improve accessibility in training, communication, and workplace learning environments.
Key Takeaways:
- How to design psychologically safe training spaces.
- Real-world barriers to accessible learning, and how to remove them.
- What “universal design for learning” means in practice.
- Why inclusive learning is essential for employee wellbeing and performance.
The session will close with an open Q&A.
About the speakers
Michael Larbalestier – Member of the CIPD Branch in South West London
Michael Larbalestier is a digital learning and innovation specialist with extensive experience in career development. As an active CIPD member, and CDI Project Associate, he champions digital confidence in an ever-changing digital landscape.
Michael Osborne is the Founder & CEO of Accessible Me, a leading voice in accessibility, especially within the Learning & Development space.
Roxanne Steel (Parallax Perspectives): Inclusive design consultant and speaker, passionate about accessible communications and visibility for people with hidden disabilities.
Izzy Pochin: Lived experience advocate and DEI practitioner focused on neurodiversity in workplace training and mental health inclusion.
William Linley: Accessibility advocate and expert in navigating digital platforms with lived experience of sight loss and neurodiversity.