TED stands for technology, entertainment and design. TEDTalks are opportunities given to public speakers to present a great idea to the world. They take place either at the main TED annual event or at one of their satellite events. Talks are always 18 minutes or less in length and are filmed, with the videos later published on TED.com, provided they meet TED's strict criteria for quality and originality.

Clive Loseby delivered his TEDx talk at a community-led event that met these same high standards. TEDxTalks (pronounced TEDex Talks) are events that take place independently around the globe. TEDx refers to a local, community-led version of TED. While smaller in scale, these events still offer powerful insights and are held to the same expectations of quality and impact. A great deal of thought and preparation goes into both the structure of the event and each individual presentation — sometimes for as long as a year in advance.

Being asked to deliver a TEDTalk is a rare and valuable opportunity. It means your idea is worth spreading, and your voice has the potential to reach a global audience.

In 2022, Dale Howath had been planning a TEDx event in Newport, on the Isle of Wight. The theme of the event was "If not now, when?" Dale had been following Clive Loseby on LinkedIn, reading his insights on how to test website accessibility and the importance of inclusive digital design. Moved by Clive's passion and clarity, Dale invited him to be one of the speakers.Clive, who has spent 15 years travelling across the South of England and beyond, regularly presents to businesses and organisations about digital accessibility. Most of these talks have been to small groups at networking events or training sessions. So, to be invited to speak at TEDx was both an honour and a unique chance to share his message more widely.

He knew this was the opportunity of a lifetime and poured his energy into preparing the TEDTalk. His mission was to explain digital accessibility in a way anyone could understand—and care about.

TedTalk Topics Covered in This Talk

Clive's TEDx talk touches on some of the most urgent and overlooked topics in the world of digital accessibility. Rather than focusing on technical checklists, his talk explores the human side of the web — the frustration, exclusion, and harm that inaccessible websites can cause. Among the key Tedtalk topics are the role of lived experience in testing, why inclusive design benefits everyone, and how even well-meaning organisations can get it wrong. This talk calls for honesty, empathy, and accountability in the way we build the digital world.

The TEDTalk was recorded and later published on the TEDx YouTube Channel. In just 13 minutes, Clive delivered a powerful, personal talk that explained accessibility using a simple metaphor: one set of doors with handles and another that opened automatically.It was a moment of clarity. The audience immediately grasped the difference between something that can technically be used and something that is truly accessible. That example has since resonated with viewers worldwide.

Clive and his Team of Disabled Testers bring lived experience to every audit they carry out. Clive himself acquired a head injury in 1989, as a passenger in a car crash. The injury left him with severe memory loss, and although he rehearsed the talk extensively, he still needed to use notes on the day.

Rather than trying to hide this, the TEDx team embraced it. A lectern was used, not hidden off-camera, and it became part of the talk itself. This was a practical demonstration of accessibility—making adjustments so someone can participate fully.

Six months after the event, TED contacted Clive. Out of all the TEDx talks recorded that day, his was the only one they wished to feature on TED.com. In January 2023, Clive's TEDTalk was officially published on the main TED platform.One year later, it had been viewed by more than 1 million people. The talk continues to spread awareness about what accessibility truly means, especially in the context of websites and digital services.

It has helped countless viewers understand that testing website accessibility is not just a technical process—it is about removing real-world barriers and enabling disabled users to engage fully.

Read more about what makes websites truly usable

Watch the video below to see the talk. You will also learn a simple way to test website accessibility on any site. This method is accessible to everyone, no technical background needed.

Clive continues to build a global community of accessible people who believe the internet should work for everyone.