Picture a world seen from the confines of a wheelchair, where every movement serves as a poignant reminder of a life-changing motorbike accident. This was the journey that brought me face to face with the power of spotlighting the remarkable achievements attainable by individuals with disabilities. This conviction ignited the birth of Ability Today in 2014, a dynamic social enterprise dedicated to amplifying the voices of disabled individuals like me within the media landscape.
Recent statistics from the Department for Work and Pensions’ Family Resources Survey underscore the prevalence of disability in the UK. In the financial year 2021/22, 16 million individuals, constituting 24% of the population, identified as having a disability. Impressively, the number of disabled people in employment grew by 240,000 from the previous year, marking an overall increase of two million since 2013.
This momentum is unquestionable; however, a conspicuous gap persists in industries like news, PR, journalism, and broadcast media, where diversity, inclusivity, and equality for disabled individuals remain distant ideals.
