Most conversations about accessibility focus on alt text, captions, and color contrast—but what if the real barrier is culture?
In this episode, Maryam Abdulkadir shares how her background as a UK-born, Nigerian learning designer reshaped how she thinks about accessibility, learning, and design. Her story begins with developing educational materials for children in conflict-affected areas and leads to a powerful insight: learning isn’t truly accessible if it’s not culturally relevant.
We dive into what “contextual accessibility” means, how language and cultural nuance shape comprehension, and why empathy—not just creativity—is key to inclusive design.
Whether you’re creating global training, supporting a diverse workforce, or rethinking your own approach to accessibility, this conversation will expand your perspective and offer ideas you can apply right away.
🔑 Takeaways
- Accessibility isn’t just about impairments—it’s about cultural relevance
- Cultural context impacts how learners interpret and retain information
- Language carries emotion, not just meaning—translation needs to reflect that
- Literacy and comprehension are not the same
- Learning cultures don’t emerge by accident—they’re designed (or neglected)
- Assumptions about what learners need can derail your design
- Exposure to different cultures builds empathy and insight for inclusive design
- Self-reflection helps instructional designers avoid bias and oversights
📚 Resources Mentioned
We Make Change – Global volunteering platform
Why Western Humanitarian Designs Fail
Maryam Abdulkadir on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryam-abdulkadir/
⏱️ Chapters
00:00 Cultural Influences on Learning Design
06:32 The Importance of Contextual Accessibility
14:42 Understanding Learning Needs
21:50 Creating a Culture of Learning
24:55 Understanding Cultural Perspectives in Learning
25:46 How to Stay Connected with Maryam
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