Inclusive Design. Strategic Impact
Dr Amit Patel
Diversity Equity & Inclusion Consultant, Keynote Speaker
Broadcaster & Author
About me
I'm a best-selling author, broadcaster, an award winning DEI consultant and disability rights campaigner.
My creative leadership spans media, advocacy, inclusive design and healthcare. Before losing my sight in 2013 to keratoconus, I worked as a trauma doctor, specialising in emergency medicine and major incidents. That experience continues to shape how I approach equity, access and the publics understanding of these topics, especially in high-pressure environments where inclusion can’t be an afterthought.
My lived experience of sight loss, alongside my guide dog Kika (now retired), inspired my memoir Kika & Me, blending personal reflection with a powerful call for representation.
Through public speaking, consultancy and charity work, I champion visibility, challenge perceptions and celebrate the strength of family, community and an inclusive future.
Whether I’m advising brands, sharing my views with national media, or shaping policy conversations, I bring both strategic insight and emotional intelligence, helping organisations rethink what true inclusion looks like and why it matters.
DEI & Inclusive Design
I’ve championed DEI and inclusive design across a wide range of platforms, from reimagining a decommissioned oil rig as a public art installation for SEE MONSTER, to educating young children about disability in hit CBeebies tv show Dog Squad.
My work spans creative industries, public spaces, education, medicine and broadcast media, always with the same goal: to make inclusion visible, intentional and lasting.
Whether I’m speaking at conferences, contributing to national campaigns, or advising organisations and brands through my consultancy, I advocate for accessibility and equity to be embedded from the very beginning, not added as an afterthought.
I bring lived experience of disability and strategic insight to every collaboration, helping teams move beyond tokenism and toward meaningful change.
That means asking better questions, challenging assumptions, and designing with, not just for, diverse communities. From boardrooms to classrooms, I help organisations and audiences rethink what inclusion truly looks like, why it matters and how to make it stick.
Keynote Speaker
As a keynote speaker, I bring lived experience of sight loss and disability, medical professional expertise and a deep commitment to equity into every room I enter.
Full of energy and emotion, my talks challenge perceptions, spark empathy and drive meaningful change - whether I’m speaking to local community groups, corporate teams, healthcare professionals, or international audiences. I don’t just share stories; I offer insight, strategy and a fresh lens on inclusion that’s both practical and personal.
My message is clear: inclusion isn’t optional, it’s transformational.
I blend humour, honesty and emotional intelligence to create space for reflection and action. From navigating sight loss to shaping inclusive design, I speak to the realities behind the headlines and the possibilities ahead.
Audiences leave not only moved, but motivated: ready to rethink assumptions, embrace difference and build environments where everyone belongs.
TV & Media
As a broadcaster, presenter and regular contributor to national and local media, I bring lived experience of disability, strategic insight and a wide lens on equity, access and public understanding.
My work spans everything from disability rights and healthcare to tech innovations, inclusive design, parenting, education and social change. Whether I’m presenting on the BBC, contributing to national campaigns, or advising behind the scenes, I offer more than commentary, I help shape the conversation.
I challenge assumptions, connect communities and make complex issues feel human, urgent and actionable.
My media presence isn’t just about visibility, it’s about impact.
Author - Kika & Me
Writing has given me a powerful way to share my journey and challenge perceptions, not just about disability but about identity, independence and the strength of human connection.
My debut book Kika & Me, published by Pan Macmillan, tells the story of losing my sight and rebuilding my life with the help of my extraordinary guide dog, Kika who is now retired. It’s a story of trust, transformation and the everyday realities of navigating a world not built with access in mind.
Through storytelling rooted in lived experience, I aim to spark empathy, celebrate resilience and amplify the voices of disabled people and their families, showing that inclusion isn’t just possible, it’s powerful.
The response from readers, families and educators has been humbling, proving that personal stories can open minds and shift culture.
CBeebies Dog Squad
BBC
You may have come across me and my now retired Guide Dog Kika in the hit CBeebies tv series 'Dog Squad'.
Dog Squad brings authentic representation to children’s television not through a character, but through lived experience.
I work closely with the BBC and the production team to shape how disability is portrayed, ensuring that every episode is inclusive, empowering and emotionally honest. From concept development to script writing and filming, I help craft a narrative that celebrates difference, sparks curiosity and makes sight loss approachable for young audiences and their families.
The impact continues to grow. Dog Squad is opening up conversations in classrooms and homes, giving children the language and confidence to talk about disability with empathy and respect. Parents tell me the show helps their children understand visual impairment in a positive, relatable way.
Educators use it as a springboard for inclusive learning. And for disabled children watching, it’s a moment of recognition, proof that their stories belong on screen.
Being part of that shift is one of the most meaningful things I do.
