Brooke engages in a thought-provoking conversation with her friend, Rachel, a passionate advocate for disability inclusion in the workplace. They discuss Rachel's experience as a Churchill Fellow, where she explored best practices for building inclusive work cultures that prioritise disabled individuals.

They also look at the nuances of reasonable adjustments, the impact of AI on employment, and the importance of recognising the diverse experiences within the disabled community. Rachel shares her personal journey of coming to terms with her disability and emphasises the significance of self-acceptance and pride in one's identity. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Disability is not a monolith; it encompasses a wide range of experiences and identities. Each individual's relationship with their disability can vary significantly, and this complexity must be acknowledged in discussions about workplace inclusivity.
• Many reasonable adjustments in the workplace are free and can significantly enhance the work experience for disabled individuals. Employers should be encouraged to understand and implement these adjustments, which can include simple changes like altering communication styles or workspace arrangements.
• Attitudes towards disability vary globally, influenced by cultural, social, and legislative contexts. Understanding these differences is crucial for developing effective strategies for inclusion in diverse workplaces.
• The rise of AI presents both opportunities and challenges for disabled individuals in the workplace. While AI can facilitate reasonable adjustments and improve accessibility, there are concerns about biases in AI systems and the potential for job displacement, particularly within the disabled community.
• Individuals with disabilities should be empowered to educate themselves about their rights and the reasonable adjustments available to them. This knowledge can help them advocate for their needs in the workplace and contribute to a more inclusive work environment.

BEST MOMENTS

"AI is going to take our jobs, especially I think within the disabled community where we are as a community so far behind in terms of employment." 

"95% of reasonable adjustments are completely free." 

"Disability for many people equals inability." 

"I think it's important to recognise where legislation and attitudes are working and what organisations are leading to them working."

"I love my community. I love my friends. For me, the whole disability pride conversation is a complete self-acceptance and love for who I am as a disabled woman."

VALUABLE RESOURCES

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/disabled-and-proud/id1621152878

HOST BIO

Disabled and Proud is the show that brings listeners a different perspective on disability. Each week this podcast highlights an awesome disabled guest speaking about their own disability; why they are proud to be disabled and why they are proud to be themselves. 

The conversations in this show will look at what challenges these amazing people face socially, mentally, physically and life in general. This show is raw, open, honest, funny, welcoming and educational. 

Disabled & Proud does exactly what it says on the tin! And whilst we are creating this space for disabled people to be unashamedly themselves, without the need to conform to society, this is also not about toxic positivity. This show will be shining a big, bright light on disability without it being “Paralympic or pity”. 

As you will hear disability is WHOLE, COMPLETE & PERFECT and whilst the topic of disability can be quite heavy - and we definitely don't shy away from the bad days - this podcast is also about having fun too! Our aim is to play a part in reclaiming the word disability - turning it from inadequacy to perfection!

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/