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Company Corner: The Disability Policy Centre
Continuing our Company Corner series, we recently caught up with Celia Hensman from The Disability Policy Centre. The Disability Policy Centre is the first think tank of its kind in the UK, dedicated to the development and advancement of policy, ensuring that accessibility is at the heart of legislation.
What is The Disability Policy Centre?
The Disability Policy Centre is the first think tank of its kind in the UK, disabled-led, and dedicated to the development and advancement of policy, ensuring that accessibility is at the heart of legislation.
What are the main missions of your organisation?
Our mission is to develop policy solutions that break down barriers for disabled people, in every aspect of our society. We collaborate with others and lead the thinking to ensure that nobody is held back from achieving their potential. We are driven by developing practical solutions that deliver real-world results and we will change the lives of disabled people for good.
Why are accessibility and disability important to your company?
Accessibility and disability inclusion is at the forefront of the work that we do at The Disability Policy Centre. One in five people in the UK identifies as disabled or having a long-term health condition. For too long their voices have been under-represented. Together, we are changing this.
Through the improvement of public services and policy reform, we are working to find practical solutions to change the lives of disabled people for good, ensuring that we prevent the repetition of avoidable situations for disabled people and people with long-term health conditions once and for all. Above all, we champion the philosophy that accessibility is a right and not a privilege.
Do you have any tips/advice on how to create a more inclusive working environment?
Our number one tip for ensuring the creation of a more inclusive working environment is effective CONSULTATION! The best people to tell you what disabled people want and need are disabled people themselves, it is not acceptable for disabled people to be spoken on behalf of, we must effectively communicate, consult and be more representative.
What do you think is the biggest challenge your industry will face in the next 5 years?
It's ensuring that accessibility, disability inclusion and inclusivity remain at the heart of the conversation, considered with the highest importance. Through raising awareness, consultation and pushing forward the agenda we must not allow the conversation around accessibility and disability policy to be pushed to the back of the pile of priorities in policy discussion.
What advice can you give to organisations trying to become more accessible and inclusive?
Web-accessibility! We ensure that all the materials we produce and all methods of communication are accessible to all! There are so many great in-built features for accessibility in social media sites such as CCs and Alt-text that MUST be utilised!
Your thoughts on Patchwork Hub
We have had the privilege of engaging with Patchwork Hub on a number of occasions, they are at the forefront of driving forward the long overdue change required in the employment sector.
Their team of passionate, dedicated individuals are the perfect demonstration of how we should be moving forward as a society for better inclusivity and adoption of accessible practices!
Your motto
Putting accessibility at the heart of legislation. Engaging, creating, delivering and impacting.
Want to find out more about The Disability Policy Centre? Check out the links below:
The Disability Policy Centre’s Website
Follow The Disability Policy Centre on Instagram
Follow The Disability Policy Centre on Twitter
Follow The Disability Policy Centre on LinkedIn
Follow The Disability Policy Centre on Facebook
Subscribe to The Disability Policy Centre’s YouTube Channel
Published: 20th February 2023
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