Accessibility and inclusion: Reflecting on stigma and advocating for change

Today is Global Accessibility Awareness Day. Its aim is to raise awareness for digital access and inclusion of more than one billion people with disabilities worldwide. It also provides us with a time to reflect on the stigma that can surround disabilities and to consider how each of us can advocate for change.

I work at a company that is striving to create a more inclusive workplace, but as ever with these things, it’s a continued work in progress. Personally, I believe teams can only reach their full potential when workplaces are truly inclusive, but to get there we need as many people as possible to have a say in these conversations. To do that, it can help if we all look at things a little differently…

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Tweak the narrative

For something to be accessible or inclusive, the person using it needs to be able to complete the task they’re trying to achieve without encountering a barrier or an issue.

Accessibility and inclusion issues don’t just affect the one billion plus people living with disabilities. I suggested we reframe conversations to remind ourselves that accessibility might not just be related to a specific disability, but something situational. And we’re all likely to be impacted at some point in our lives.

Walk in my shoes

Have you ever considered an average day if you were to walk in someone else’s shoes? Whilst I regularly use a wheelchair, I don’t often think about the working day for someone who’s got hearing or sight loss. And I think we also need to get better at remembering that some people are less comfortable than others when it comes to sharing their digital or physical challenges as the result of a diagnosis or similar.

So today I’m challenging myself to look at things from another angle; I’m going to spend 5 minutes going mouse-less with the contrast off on my screen, and a colleague has challenged himself to get around his usual place of work from the perspective of someone in a wheelchair.

In just a few short minutes, you might help identify changes that could have a profound impact on someone. I know what a difference ergonomic keyboards and push-button doors make to me. And I know there will be so many others out there with examples of adaptations that support them in the digital, and physical world.

By getting familiar with others’ norms and considering potential barriers they may face, we can be more empathetic.

Drive change

Once we have a better understanding of the barriers and challenges others may face – openly or quietly – we’re better positioned to support each other to increase accessibility. And quite often, it is the fairly cost-effective solutions that can have an enormous impact on everyday working life.

The global pandemic took many of us out of our regular in-person world. It saw businesses ask for grace and support as we all got our heads around the unprecedented situation. Whilst it was an incredibly unsettling time, I’m pleased it has made things like home working (for those roles where it is feasible) a more common option. I know there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution, but personally, the flexibility of hybrid working that I now have has had a massive impact on my quality of life.

I believe in the power of people and think we should all seize opportunities to be allies for one another. I hope we take the empathy and awareness the pandemic required us all to have, forward into the future. And use this to build mutually supportive networks across our places of work and beyond.

Gayle Stocks

Group Business Excellence Manager, Featherstone, UK

As such, I’m passionate about our Employee Resource Network at work. Our primary purpose is to serve as a supportive community for those living with a disability or keen to support others, and we’re cultivating a place to share ideas and collaborate for change. We’ve already undertaken a few site audits (which have resulted in new paving, the lowering of microwaves in kitchen areas and increased use of alt text online), and have plans to review internal policies and more.

Keep the conversation alive

For me, what’s most important right now on Global Accessibility Awareness Day, is that we foster and sustain open dialogues. However, I say that with mixed emotions; I know we need to keep discussing but, there have been times when I haven’t had the desire or strength to talk about my day-to-day journey with MS. And whilst this isn’t exactly an apology, as I will keep talking about these issues, I want you to understand that I do this mainly because I know there will be so many people that can’t talk as openly about their needs, or aren’t yet ready to do so.

I’m proud to be part of a workplace that is striving to increase accessibility and inclusion. I’m acutely aware that there is more to be done but collectively, we can create more inclusive workplaces. And as individuals, we can become stronger allies to those even the smallest of changes can make a big difference too.