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People with both visible and invisible disabilities face several issues when accessing science.

For those with reduced mobility, everything from lecture theatres to laboratories can be difficult to access. Particularly for those in a wheelchair, corridors may not be wide enough, lab benches and sinks may be too high and equipment may be out of reach. A student unable to use stairs would find it very difficult to navigate a campus with lots of stairs and could find using an alternative accessible route frustrating.

Visually impaired individuals will also find moving around a busy and complex campus difficult. The safety of those who are visually impaired becomes a bigger issue when going into a lab, with a lot of tight spaces and fragile equipment. Few safety signs feature Braille. Although specialist laboratory equipment is available, visually demanding disciplines are still challenging for those with impairments.

Accessing science with a hearing impairment is not straightforward. Public engagement events, lectures and demonstrations are not accessible for those with impaired hearing. Safety in the lab is also a challenge, as alarms indicating danger will not be effective.

This year marks the 30 year fall of the Berlin Wall. When the world is becoming increasingly obsessed with building them, let’s break down the walls in science!