Pathways to Zero Barriers

Welcome to the Season 3 premiere of Pathways to Zero Barriers! In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Sambhavi Chandrashekar, Global Accessibility Lead at D2L (Desire2Learn) , to explore how the lines between assistive technology (AT) and mainstream consumer tech are permanently blurring. We look closely at how the "curb-cut effect" is accelerating in 2026, driven by edge AI, next-generat...

Pathways to Zero Barriers: Season 3 In this short introduction Tom Butcher and Judith Hermetter will provide an overview of this season's structure, highlight upcoming topics, and share what listeners can expect in the weeks ahead. 🔗 Zero Project: https://zeroproject.org 📩 Contact: podcast@zeroproject.org Brought to you by The Zero Project with the support of the Essl Foundation and its glob...

Pathways to Zero Barriers Episode: The mindset of scaling internationally with Małgorzata Grobelna What does it take to scale disability innovation across borders—and what mindset makes international growth possible? In this episode of Pathways to Zero Barriers, host Tom Butcher speaks with Małgorzata “Margaret” Grobelna, Programme Manager at Zero Project, about what it truly means to scale disabi...

Episode: Innovations on a global stage: Reflections on #ZeroCon26 with Varun Chandak  "The conference doesn't end with the last session" . In this special episode, guest host Judith Hermetter sits down with Varun Chandak, Founder and Executive Director of Access to Success, to recap the high-energy days of the Zero Project Conference 2026 (#ZeroCon26) at the United Nations in Vienna....

It’s mid-season for Pathways to Zero Barriers , and we have a short announcement regarding what’s coming up next. Until now, each episode has featured a single innovator sharing their insights on scaling solutions. For the remainder of the season, we’re diving deeper - joined by experts from around the world to explore some of the topics in greater detail. Subscribe now so you don't miss these dee...

Pathways to Zero Barriers Episode: When healthcare adapts to the individual with Dr. Shalhav Malamud How can person-centered care transform access to healthcare for persons with disabilities? In this episode of Pathways to Zero Barriers, host Tom Butcher speaks with Dr. Shalhav Malamud, Medical Director of the Dental Clinic at Beit Issie Shapiro in Israel. Dr. Malamud shares how adapting healthcar...

Episode: Making neurodivergent lives visible with Melissa Muñoz-Flández How can technology support autistic people across their entire lifespan, without excluding those who cannot afford it? In this episode, host Thomas Butcher speaks with Melissa Muñoz-Flández, Founder and CEO of Prisma Neurodivergente and creator of Autistapp. Launched in June 2024, Autistapp is a free mobile application designe...

Pathways to Zero Barriers Episode: From personal barriers to systemic change with Prateek Khandelwal How can lived experience of disability drive scalable, city-level accessibility? In this episode of Pathways to Zero Barriers, host Tom Butcher speaks with Prateek Khandelwal, Founder and Managing Director of RampMyCity, an Indian accessibility startup advancing inclusion in public spaces for perso...

 Making the most of conferences with  Michael Fembek     How can you turn conferences into meaningful opportunities for impact, networking, and scaling your work? In this episode of Pathways to Zero Barriers, Dr. Michael Fembek, CEO of the Zero Project and Tom Butcher, the host and a Zero Project Ambassador, will share their tips on making the most of conferences. Drawing on more than 30 years of...

How can innovation in prosthetics be driven by local talent, affordability, and human connection—not just by technology? In this episode of Pathways to Zero Barriers, host Tom Butcher speaks with Enzo Romero, Founder and CEO of LAT Bionics in Peru. Enzo shares how growing up without a right hand—and seeing fictional bionics on screen—sparked a lifelong commitment to engineering accessible prosthet...

How can companies turn accessibility from a perceived burden into a practical driver of inclusion and business value? In this episode of Pathways to Zero Barriers, host Tom Butcher speaks with Guilherme Braga, Founder and CEO of Egalité, a Brazilian social business supporting the employment of persons with disabilities for over 15 years. Guilherme reflects on how early exposure to accessible envir...

How do innovators stay motivated, balanced, and resilient when building solutions for inclusion in high-stakes environments? In this episode, host Tom Butcher speaks with Rebecca “Becca” Hume, Founder and CEO of Inclutech and developer of the TapSOS app. Becca shares the ten-year journey behind building an inclusive, accessible way for people to contact emergency services, especially those who are...

How do innovators stay motivated, focused, and resilient while bringing a deeply human-centred solution to life? In this episode, host Tom Butcher reconnects with Rob van de Ven, Co-Founder of HappyBots and Zero Project Scaling Solutions alumnus, to explore the milestones—both strategic and emotional—that have shaped the journey of Felix, the social robot helping children communicate their feeling...

How do you know when your innovation is ready to scale ? In this episode, host Thomas Butcher speaks with Varun Chandak, Founder and Executive Director of Access to Success and the new implementation partner of the Zero Project Scaling Solutions Programme.  Varun shares his personal journey into disability innovation, what “readiness to scale” really means, and the key factors that influence wheth...

Brief Summary  In today's episode, Ana Yolanda from PanQAyuda shares how they pivoted during the COVID pandemic, creating a cricket-based superfood and landing a deal with an airline, all while staying true to their mission of dignified employment for persons with disabilities. Joined by Maria Ignacia from Fundación Descúbreme, they will explore what role do regional partnerships and local kno...

Brief Summary What does it take to lead as a founder with a disability? Not just at launch, but as your team scales and your product evolves. Hear from Ali Shabbar, the CEO of DeafTawk and Walter Tsui, the Co-Founder and CEO of CareER Association, about finding a leadership style, shifting from grand entrepreneur to a revenue mindset, and why you should love the problem you're solving.. Downlo...

Brief Summary How to manage risks and challenges when expanding access to education? Drawing on EduDown’s 25 years of experience, Paula Giacosa, EduDown’s National Director discusses the importance of adapting to regional cultural contexts, forming strategic local alliances, and engaging families as key partners. The episode also explores how social innovation, including circular economy approache...

Brief Summary What if accessibility and sustainability were embedded in design from the start? This conversation explores how Equivalent SVG is reshaping the future of inclusive visual content through scalable, smart SVG graphics. CEO Heather Neff shares how her lived experience as a designer with disabilities drives the creation of SVGs that adapt to users' accessibility settings—making graph...

Brief Summary What if scaling was part of the plan from day one? This conversation explores TOM Global's bold approach to global collaboration, why networks matter more than partnerships, and how values shape every yes and no along the way. Join in the conversation with Gideon (Gidi) Grinstein from TOM Global and Ron Sargent from Prama Global to hear their advice on building impactful networks...

Brief Summary How do you scale inclusion without losing sight of community? In this episode, we explore what it takes to design for dignity—from inclusive playgrounds that prioritize local voices to adaptive fashion that redefines access in India. We hear from Aditi Agrawal, Co-Founder of Gudgudee, and advisor Mehul Pancholi about the power of partnerships, cultural adaptation, and why listening i...

Brief Summary How do you grow a safety solution in a system that wasn’t designed to protect you? In this episode, we hear from the team behind App Morada—a platform co-designed with women with disabilities to address gender-based violence in Mexico. From building trust to navigating policy gaps, we explore what it takes to grow a local innovation without losing sight of the people it's built f...

Brief Summary How do you expand a life-changing support system across regions with different cultures, languages, and needs? In this episode, we explore how  Nayi Disha  is scaling its impact across India and beyond. Guests  Sayomdeb Mukherjee  and  Prachi Deo  share insights on navigating cultural differences, building trust within communities, and leveraging both digital and grassroots networks...

Brief Summary – Scaling Inclusion: Turning Promises into Practices – #ZeroCon25 Special This special episode is a recording of a fireside chat recorded during the Zero Project Conference 2025. Innovation in inclusion isn’t just about policies—it’s about transforming real-world practices. Join Michael Fembek, the CEO of Zero Project and Anthony Giannoumis of Inclusive Creation in this Fireside Chat...

Brief Summary – How to Create Your Perfect Pitch – #ZeroCon25 Special Pitching isn’t just about presenting an idea—it’s about capturing attention, building connections, and making a lasting impact. In this special episode of  Pathways to Zero Barriers , recorded in Vienna during #ZeroCon25, Anthony shares key insights from the 2-Day Pitch Training Bootcamp. This episode covers essential strategies...

Brief Summary  In this episode, host Anthony explores the financial strategies that drive AI-powered accessibility solutions, focusing on how innovative funding approaches can scale impact while maintaining affordability. He is joined by Paweł Potakowski, Chief Commercial Officer at MIGAM, and Rafiul Alam, Chief Business Officer at Genweb2 Limited. Paweł shares how MIGAM evolved from a small start...