Beyond the "mythical average user"
In the Season 3 premiere of Pathways to Zero Barriers, Dr. Sambhavi Chandrashekar, Global Accessibility Lead at D2L (Desire2Learn), analyzes how the "curb-cut effect" is accelerating in 2026, driven by edge AI, next-generation wearables, and massive market convergence. Features such as captions and predictive text have evolved from niche assistive technologies into mainstream defaults.
The conversation also looks at the growing role of wearables—from Meta Ray-Ban glasses and OrCam MyEye to the booming health-and-sleep tracking ring industry—and examines the difference between mainstream accessibility features and true technology convergence.
In conversation with: Dr. Sambhavi Chandrashekar
Dr. Sambhavi Chandrashekar is the Global Accessibility Lead at D2L (Desire2Learn), where she champions inclusive design and digital accessibility at scale. She is a recognized expert in reframing accessibility as a core business strategy and an engine for mainstream innovation.
In this episode, she discusses why organizations must move beyond the "mythical average user" and highlights the growing economic impact of accessibility, including its connection to a $13 trillion market opportunity and the 53% of consumers who are connected to disability.
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Hear the full conversation with Dr. Sambhavi Chandrashekar and Tom Butcher:
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The transcript of this episode is available online: