Phil and Simon were lucky enough to have Neil Crowther as a guest on this show. Neil is an independent expert on equality, human rights and social change with a particular interest in working to secure the rights of disabled people.Phil & Simon talk to him about his work, both past and present, including his time at the Equality & Human Rights Commission (EHRC) and the Disability Rights Commission (DRC). Neil questions if the disability equality and inclusion agenda was really better ten years ago? We explore how disability equality is seen as a human rights issue, not simply through anti-discrimination legislation and ask why the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with a Disability isn’t more dominant in the UK?Neil chips in to the ongoing discussion about those who would be defined as disabled but don’t identify as so and asks, is it necessary, helpful, let alone possible?Neil writes a blog which has highlighted the risks of framing a need for change in an alarming or ineffective way, and if worded poorly, does it do more harm? Should the narrative be about reminding people of shared citizenship?Finally, there’s a discussion of the perhaps surprising findings of how disabled people in the UK vote, be it in a general election or the recent EU referendum. Also how social class can be over looked in the equality agenda. Neil is a fan, most of the time, of Twitter and tells us about his recent shout out for positive stories around disability in the UK over the past 20 years.**Links to topics discussed. **[Neil’s blog page](https://makingrightsmakesense.wordpress.com).[Authors of our Lives](https://theindependentlivingdebate.wordpress.com) blog page[Inclusion Project](http://inclusionproject.org.uk)The [specific blog](https://makingrightsmakesense.wordpress.com/2016/03/21/the-choice-ahead-on-protecting-and-promoting-investment-in-disabled-peoples-lives/) mentioned in the show**Some of the people mentioned who have influenced Neil. **[Baroness Jane Campbell](http://baronesscampbellofsurbiton.uk)[Professor Gerard Quinn](http://www.nuigalway.ie/cdlp/staff/gerard_quinn.html)[Catherine Hale](http://www.catherinehale.net/p/other-publications.html)Click on these words for [Transcript available](https://www.dropbox.com/s/k7xoauybbs1lukl/Phil%20%26%20Simon%20Show%2018%20transcript.rtf?dl=0)See also our Facebook page and Twitter feeds