Design and accessibility — with Ludovic Evelin

A conversation between designers about accessibility, social impact, and the next generation

Ludovic is the second designer I’ve invited for an interview, and also someone I see as an ally. It’s a chance to hear in his own words what it means to be an accessibility designer outside of big corporations, and the impact this work can have on our profession and on society.

During our conversation, Ludovic spoke about his disability and how it shapes his daily life, his journey as a designer committed to digital accessibility, and his role as a teacher with new generations of creatives. Three sides of the same commitment, guided by the aim of making design fairer and more inclusive.

Ludovic Evelin

Living with spina bifida

Can you tell me about your disability?

I was born with a congenital condition called spina bifida which is a neurological disorder. In my case, I had a myelomeningocele — a hernia in the lower back where cerebrospinal fluid was leaking. I had surgery at birth, but the outlook for walking was poor, or at best delayed. In the 1980s, my parents had no choice but to enrol me in a private school. Until the French law of 11 February 2005, children with disabilities were…