CAE marks record year for Pathways Academy as 15 disabled Londoners complete programme
Fifteen disabled Londoners have completed the Centre for Accessible Environments (CAE)’s Pathways Academy, marking the most successful year in the programme’s history and a significant milestone in its work to increase representation within the access and inclusive design sector.
Pathways, which is funded by City Bridge Foundation, is CAE’s award-winning training programme designed to give disabled people in London the confidence, skills and support needed to begin a career in inclusive design and access.
Established in 2020, the programme combines specialist training, practical experience and professional networking to help participants build the knowledge needed to work in the sector.
The Class of 2026 celebrated the completion of nine months of specialist training, with the cohort achieving a record 100 per cent completion rate.
Students Marina and Sophia attended a recent CAE event and spoke about the impact the programme has had on their confidence and understanding of accessibility.
Marina said: “I really loved the way that the course allowed me to learn things in a structured manner. It wasn’t all crammed into a couple of days. It was spread over nine months, which was amazing.
“I feel much more confident now when I speak with people about accessibility.”
Sophia, who is interested in working on the accessibility of live events, festivals or accessible housing, said: “The course was really empowering. It gave me so much knowledge and it built my confidence.”
For 24-year-old architecture graduate Sarah Bond, from Romford, Pathways provided an opportunity to deepen her understanding of inclusive design and develop practical skills for a career in the field.
She said: “The experience I’ve gained on the course has helped me understand how to translate my understanding of inclusive design into written guidance and create access audits with practical recommendations.”
Sarah has since secured a role with Arup as an Assistant Consultant within its Access and Inclusive Environments team and is working towards accreditation with the National Register of Access Consultants.
CAE Head of Business Development Fara Muneer said: “Pathways is a huge success and it’s demonstrating what can happen when people are given the right specialist training, networks, connections and practical experience.
“The Class of 2026 experiences reflect what Pathways set out to achieve, giving disabled people the technical skills, professional networks and lived experience to pursue a career in inclusive design.”
CAE says the growing demand for genuinely inclusive environments is also increasing recognition of the value of professionals who combine technical expertise with lived experience of navigating inaccessible spaces.
Learning alongside peers with a range of disabilities, identities and intersectional experiences is intended to give participants additional insight into how the built environment is experienced in practice, helping them challenge assumptions about accessibility and apply greater understanding to their work.
CAE is part of Habinteg Housing Association, and Habinteg Chief Executive Martin Warhurst presented students with their certificates at an event at Lift Youth Hub in Islington.
Habinteg Director of Influencing and Communications Christina McGill delivered the main address, while speeches were also given by Pathways trainers and CAE Associate Consultants Vin Goodwin, Caroline Lewis, Neil Rogers and Ann Sawyer.
The CAE Pathways Academy has supported 72 disabled people since its launch in 2020.
