EPISODE 26: ACCESSIBILITY
Episode 26: Accessibility | 19 May 2026
Stephen and Trent discuss the ins and outs of accessibility as relates to worldbuilding, design practices, and the broader educational ecosystem, including:
Biomedical vs. social models of disability;
Framing disability and accessibility in terms of environments rather than people;
Yanni vs. Laurel, “The Dress,” and subjective perception;
The inseparability of language and context;
Situated cognition and how each of us “talks” to the world;
The Spoon Theory of Disability;
The “Roy Rogers” Model of toggleable accessibility options;
Why and how to incorporate multiple modalities during the design process;
Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and its wide-ranging applications;
Understanding and combating systemic capitalist hurdles to inclusivity;
Weighing the benefits and drawbacks of low-tech vs. high-tech accessibility solutions;
Overcoming faulty cultural assumptions and outdated beliefs concerning learner (dis)abilities;
Debunking and replacing the “learning styles” myth; and
Practical accessibility design resources for educators and designers.
Episode References:
Miserandino, C. (2003). The spoon theory. But You Don't Look Sick. https://butyoudontlooksick.com/articles/written-by-christine/the-spoon-theory/
AbleGamers. (2026). AbleGamers: Combating social isolation through play. https://ablegamers.org/
Brown, M. (n.d.). Video Game Accessibility [YouTube playlist]. Game Maker's Toolkit. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLc38fcMFcV_vvWOhMDriBlVocTZ8mKQzR
University of Michigan. (2024, January 10). Roundup on research: The myth of 'learning styles'. Center for Academic Innovation. https://onlineteaching.umich.edu/articles/the-myth-of-learning-styles/
National Center for Learning Disabilities. (n.d.). NCLD: Unrestricted access and unlimited opportunity. https://ncld.org
Galiatsos S., Kruse L., Whitaker M. (2019). Forward together: Helping educators unlock the power of students who learn differently. National Center for Learning Disabilities. https://www.understood.org/en/research-and-surveys/forward-together
Understood for All, Inc. (2024). 2023 annual report. https://www.understood.org/en/annual-report
Cognition and Technology Group at Vanderbilt. (1992). The Jasper Series as an Example of Anchored Instruction: Theory, Program Description, and Assessment Data. Educational Psychologist, 27(3), 291–315. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15326985ep2703_3
Saylor, S. (n.d.). Video Game Accessibility [YouTube channel]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@SteveSaylor
Evmanova, A. (n.d.). Anya Evmanova. George Mason University College of Education and Human Development. https://cehd.gmu.edu/people/faculty/aevmenov/
Evmenova, A. S., Hollingshead, A., Lowrey, K. A., Rao, K., & Williams, L. D. (2024). Designing for diversity and inclusion: UDL-based strategies for college courses (practice brief). Journal of Postsecondary Education and Disability, 37(1), 81-88. https://www.ahead.org/professional-resources/publications/jped