Vulnerability vs Disability: Mind the Gap

Vulnerability vs Disability: Mind the Gap

In this episode of Accessible Finance, host Prerna Goel speaks with Kathryn Townsend — Head of Customer Vulnerability and Accessibility at Nationwide Building Society and founder of the Deaf Inclusion Consortium. She was previously the UK Government Disability & Access Ambassador for banking. Together they explore why disability inclusion still lags behind vulnerability frameworks, how digital transformation risks leaving disabled customers behind, and what practical steps banks and fintechs can take to embed accessibility from the start. Kathryn also shares her experience leading industry coalitions, collaborating with Project Nemo on learning disability research, and pushing organisations beyond compliance to truly inclusive design. If you want to understand what it takes to make accessibility a default in financial services, this conversation is full of insights, challenges, and solutions.

Accessibility by design

In this episode, FinTech expert Jas Shah shares his journey and why digital accessibility is no longer optional. He breaks down how the industry has moved beyond basic colour tweaks to fully inclusive design, guided by standards like the WCAG. Jas calls out the common myths and confusion around accessibility, and makes a clear case for why it’s good for business—not just compliance. From user testing to practical fixes, he lays out how FinTechs can build products that work for everyone—and why that’s a smart competitive move.

Inclusion leads to innovation

In this episode we are delighted to talk to Mary Elliott. Mary is the managing partner of city law firm Fox Williams and a partner in the corporate team where she heads up the Publishing & Digital Media practice. She regularly advises on mergers and acquisitions in the publishing and information industries as well as on day-to-day legal issues facing content-rich businesses including content acquisition and licensing as well as supply chain issues and the potential impact of AI. Mary has been partially sighted since birth and speaks on accessibility issues across a wide range of sectors. She is currently a trustee of the Royal National Institute of the Blind having previously been a trustee of the Nystagmus Network.

Less talk, more action!

In this episode of Accessible Finance by Project Nemo, we have a truly inspiring guest, Nadia Edwards-Dashti, a prominent advocate in the field of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Nadia is known for her impactful work through her podcast series, ‘Fintech’s DEI Discussions,’ and her book, ‘FinTech Women Walk the Talk.’ With a strong focus on actionable change, she’s created several influential DEI programmes, including HSRAE-Success Is Inclusion and STEPFORWARD. Nadia’s dedication to promoting workplace inclusion and supporting future technologists has earned her recognition as one of Innovate Finance’s Women of FinTech Powerlist and multiple industry awards. We delve into her personal journey and explore her insights on improving disability inclusion in the workplace.

Are you Disability Confident?

In this episode of Accessible Finance, we are honoured to host Cressida Stephenson [https://www.linkedin.com/in/cressidastephenson/], a leading inclusive talent specialist and DEI educator with a strong focus on disability inclusion. Cressida shares her personal journey from a three-decade career in recruitment to becoming a champion for disability inclusion after her own life-changing diagnosis. She now helps organisations embrace the Disability Confident Scheme and implement strategies to recruit and retain disabled talent. This episode offers powerful insights on overcoming the barriers to disability inclusion and the impact of accessible recruitment practices. Cressida’s story is not only inspiring but also a call to action for businesses to create truly inclusive workplaces that empower all individuals, including those with disabilities. Tune in to learn how these changes are vital for both social impact and business success.