Miss Elisabeth Arnold

Libby, a third-year Ph.D. candidate at the University of Newcastle, is a visual communication design researcher driven by a profound commitment to enhancing accessibility in education. With both a Bachelor's and an Honours degree in Visual Communication Design, she has honed her expertise in utilizing design principles to tackle accessibility barriers.

Libby’s current research focuses on enhancing accessibility guidelines for K-6 educators to better support students with or who exhibit traits of autism. Situated at the intersection of accessibility, visual communication design, user experience design, and education, this innovative work bridges critical gaps in the existing landscape. The culmination of this research will be an expertly curated website, offering tailored, education-specific guidelines designed to empower educators and create inclusive learning experiences for students on the spectrum.

Libby’s motivation stems from personal experiences in school, where she faced significant challenges with reading and retaining information. This struggle inspired her to explore accessibility, revealing that the issue wasn’t her abilities but the design of the information around her. Driven by empathy, dyslexic thinking, and human-centered design, she is passionate about ensuring every student has the tools and environment they need to thrive academically.

With strengths in accessibility, design thinking, universal design principles, and empathetic problem-solving, Libby combines her expertise and personal insights to advocate for a more inclusive educational landscape. Through her research, she hopes to empower educators and foster positive change that resonates far beyond the classroom.