From banking apps to yoga classes, every service includes numbers in some way. But half of UK adults need help with numbers (National Numeracy).
This is a show about designing services for people with dyscalculia and maths anxiety.
I speak to researchers, designers, accessibility specialists and data scientists about presenting numbers clearly in services.
Season 1 is out now. Episodes released every 2 weeks.
I'm Laura, a content designer with dyscalculia. Join my campaign for accessible numbers (accessiblenumbers.com) and follow me on LinkedIn and Bluesky @accessiblenumbers.
Understand the complex world of debt, poverty, and mental health with money advisor, Colin Trend.
With over 30 years of experience, Colin shares his insights on designing services for people struggling with money, the impact of harmful design patterns, and the importance of understanding the user's perspective.
This episode includes real-life stories of the people Colin has helped over the years.
Whether you're a designer, a financial advisor, or someone interested in social justice, this episode offers valuable lessons on making financial services more accessible.
01:34: Colin's relationship with numbers
05:02: Working in money and debt advice
07:21: Social injustices and financial vulnerability
11:16: Mental health and financial struggles
14:09: Designing accessible financial services
19:04: Real life stories and challenges
24:10: Innovations in financial services
30:28: Final thoughts and more stories
Follow Colin on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/colin-trend-81a25a14/). Bio and transcripts available at accessiblenumbers.com/debt-financial-vulnerability
9 Mar 2025
Accessible health information
A chat with Sheena Campbell from the Patient Information Forum (PIF).
This episode covers the importance of health literacy and how numbers and data can be confusing or challenging for many people when accessing healthcare services.
We discuss how numbers appear in healthcare, such as medication dosages, appointment times, and risk and benefit communication. Sheena provides insights and tips on how to present health information and data in more accessible and understandable ways.
01:44: Sheena's relationship with numbers
02:16: Overview of the Patient Information Forum (PIF)
04:03: Membership and benefits of PIF
05:11: Health literacy
08:41: Numbers in healthcare
13:25: Communicating medical risks and benefits
23:03: Health information in medical settings
32:02: Writing medical questions
35:53: User-centered design in health information
40:49: Misinformation in health information
Follow Sheena Campbell on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheena-campbell-journalism/) and Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/sheenacampbell.bsky.social). Visit and pifonline.org.uk and piftick.org.uk.
Transcript and bio available at accessiblenumbers.com/accessible-health-information
24 Feb 2025
Inclusive design systems
Explore Geri Reid's personal experience with dyscalculia and her professional work in accessibility and design systems.
We discuss the challenges people with dyscalculia face when using digital services, deceptive design patterns (like hidden fees, sneaky upsells, and countdown timers) that can exploit those challenges, and design patterns that can help make numbers more accessible.
We also talk about how internal tools and documentation are often overlooked for accessibility but are vital for employees who struggle with numbers.
01:10 Lived experience with dyscalculia
03:34 Challenges with design components
08:29 Financial transactions and vulnerabilities
13:18 Designing for accessibility in financial services
20:41 Internal documentation and accessibility
29:00 Deceptive design patterns
38:53 Helpful design patterns and tools
44:37 Improving accessibility in design systems
Follow Geri on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/gerireid/) and Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/gerireid.com).
Transcript, bio and links available on accessiblenumbers.com/inclusive-design-systems
10 Feb 2025
Poverty and digital inclusion
How does growing up in poverty impact our relationship with money and financial services? Lead content designer Ray Newman shares his lived experience.
We cover how poorer people pay more for essential services and goods (poverty premium), deceptive patterns, financial vulnerability, and access to digital services.
We discuss how assumptions and a lack of understanding of the realities of poverty can lead to non-inclusive and inaccessible services.
01:17: Ray's experience with numbers
Ray shares his experience with numbers and how he copes with numbers as a content designer.
02:34: Content designers and number anxiety
The prevalence of number anxiety among content designers and the strategies they use to manage it.
03:59:Financial inclusion and poverty
Ray talks about his recent discussions on designing for people in poverty, sharing his own experiences growing up in poverty.
05:44:The psychological impact of poverty
Ray delves into the psychological effects of growing up in poverty, including the anxiety and habits formed around money.
08:04:Deceptive patterns and financial vulnerability
Laura and Ray discuss how people in poverty are vulnerable to deceptive patterns in services and the importance of transparency in pricing.
13:20: Access to services and digital inclusion
The challenges of accessing services, the role of public spaces like libraries, and the impact of digital-only services on vulnerable populations.
19:11: Financial habits and inclusion
Financial habits formed due to poverty, such as the reliance on cash and the challenges of digital payments.
25:26: The role of organisations in financial inclusion
Ways organisations can practise financial inclusion, such as changing their mindset and being transparent about costs.
44:02: Practical steps for inclusive design
Practical advice for designers on how to consider people living in poverty from the start of a project.
Follow Ray onLinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ray-newman-writer/) andBluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/raynewman.bsky.social).
Show notes, bio and transcript available at accessiblenumbers.com/poverty-and-financial-inclusion
27 Jan 2025
Trauma-informed design
Lessons on designing with care from content designers Jane McFadyen and Rachel Edwards.
We discuss the principles of trauma-informed design, how stress, anxiety and trauma impact the use of services, and practical strategies for creating clear, simple and empathetic content.
We share our personal experiences with numbers and the importance of trauma-informed design when designing services for people with dyscalculia and maths anxiety.
Content warning: This episode includes themes such as death and bereavement, cancer treatment and trauma.
01:56 Personal experiences with numbers
08:52 Trauma-informed design principles
24:02 Impact of trauma on service use
08:52 Practical applications of trauma informed design
48:54 Numbers in services
57:42 Support for designers
01:08:36 New book: Designed with care
Follow Jane McFadyen on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jane-mcfadyen-9310b677/) and Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/janemcfadyen.bsky.social).
Follow Rachel Edwards on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-edwards-scotland/) and Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/rachelanne.bsky.social).
Buy Designed with care (https://www.designedwithcare.org).
Transcript, bios and links available on accessiblenumbers.com/trauma-informed-design
16 Jan 2025
Accessibility and intersectionality
An engaging and informative chat with Priyanca D'Souza, a senior user researcher with multiple access needs.
We discuss dyscalculia, number anxiety, mental health and the impact of assistive technology on understanding numbers.
We also talk about intersectionality and the complexities of managing multiple access needs and common service barriers.
"We can't just ignore information about people because it's inconvenient or makes them too messy or complex. People are complex." Priyanca
This episode is dedicated to Vicky Teinaki.
00:41: Personal experience with numbers
07:53: Intersectionality and inclusive design
10:11: Assistive technology and its challenges
14:34: Mental health and number anxiety
29:07: Designing for neurodivergent users
32:04: Real life Implications and advocacy
36:45: Financial literacy
41:53: Barriers in services
51:54: More design tips
Follow Priyanca on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/priyanca-ux/) and Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/priyanca.bsky.social).
More on accessible numbers (https://accessiblenumbers.com).
20 Dec 2024
Dyscalculia in adulthood
A deeply personal chat with Peter Cherry, the chair of the adults with dyscalculia advisory board, about dyscalculia in adulthood.
We discuss what dyscalculia is, the stigma around not having a maths GCSE, gender stereotypes in maths education and the need for greater awareness and acceptance of dyscalculia.
01:35 Personal experiences with dyscalculia
04:20 Understanding dyscalculia
07:38 The impact of dyscalculia on daily life
14:27 Co-occurrence with other neurodivergent conditions
21:56 Diagnosis versus self identification
27:15 Dyscalculia in the workplace
35:26 Masking dyscalculia
43:07 Creative coping strategies
54:43 Advocating for support
01:02:00 Resources and the Dyscalculia Network
Episode notes, transcription and links (https://accessiblenumbers.com/dyscalculia-in-adulthood)
The Dyscalculia Network (https://dyscalculianetwork.com)
Follow Peter on Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/peterjcherry.bsky.social)
5 Dec 2024
Trailer
Why should we care about making numbers accessible?
I seek to answer this question in series 1.
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5.0 / 5
4 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 38 / 100
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Engagement
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