Summary: London Tech Week

Discussion Summary: Locked Out by Design? Disabled People and Personal Finance in a Digital-First World 

On 11 June 2026, Policy Connect’s ATech Policy Lab, in partnership with Tech for Disability and RIX Inclusive Research at the University of East London, convened a hybrid roundtable on financial inclusion in a digital-first world. Chaired by Robert McLaren, Director of the ATech Policy Lab, the session brought together representatives from banking, technology, research and disability organisations, alongside people with lived experience. 

Contributors emphasised that accessible financial services must be developed through genuine co-production, with disabled people involved from the outset and throughout design and implementation. Participants also made the case for ‘designing for the edges’, arguing that services built around those with the greatest access needs are more inclusive for the wider population and can help organisations reach more customers. 

The discussion highlighted that technical compliance alone does not guarantee meaningful financial inclusion. Participants called for accessibility to be considered across the full customer journey, with greater awareness of available features and a choice of configurable interfaces, payment methods, authentication routes and support channels. Cash and access to human assistance were identified as particularly important for maintaining autonomy and preventing unnecessary reliance on relatives, carers or support staff. 

Participants also examined security, identity verification and trusted third-party access, stressing that accessibility and safeguarding should be designed together. The session highlighted the importance of early, practical financial education and considered both the accessibility benefits and risks of artificial intelligence (AI). Overall, contributors agreed that digital innovation should expand choice and independence rather than deepen existing exclusion. 

We want to thank all those who contributed to this insightful discussion, including speakers: Rebecca Brindley (NatWest), Dr Paul Watts (RIX Inclusive Research), Rosalyn Weinberg (RIX Inclusive Research), Marc Goblot (Tech for Disability), and Ismail Kaji (Mencap). 

Please follow the link under ‘related documents’ on this page for a more detailed summary of the discussion.

If interested in contributing to further Accessibility Policy, or ATech Policy Lab work, please contact Robert McLaren (robert.mclaren@policyconnect.org.uk)