The Way We Roll

Since its launch in 2019, the Valuable 500 has signed up more than five hundred senior executives from worldwide companies and organisations to put disability on the board agenda. So far, so pretty good. But as the Valuable 500 matures, it is now asking more of its members and wants them to report back on progress. It is holding a meeting in Tokyo in December 2025.

At the centre of this is our guest, Stephan Leblois, Chief Community and Programmes Officer for Valuable 500. Stephane leads programme development and community building, playing a pivotal role in rallying for progress and fostering accountability among the members.

We asked Stephane how he got involved in disability inclusion and about his relationship with disability. He tells us about fantastic examples of inclusive practice, from a multinational pharmaceutical company to a prestigious hotel in Scotland. These trailblazers share their knowledge and become known as the ‘Iconics’.

But what do you do about the companies that sign up but don’t make any meaningful change – is that purple washing? How do you harmonise more than 500 organisations' disability inclusion efforts when they are in different places geographically and in terms of resources? Luckily, Stephane has the answers.

Links

https://www.thevaluable500.com

https://www.thevaluable500.com/about

https://disabilitypower100.com/project/stephane-leblois/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaneleblois/

Our guests this month are Alice Maynard and Richard Hawkes, formerly of Scope, a leading disability charity in the UK. In 2010, Alice became Chair, and shortly after, Richard joined as Chief Executive Officer. 

During their time leading Scope, it went through a significant transformation and a turbulent time. Significant changes included closing services used by disabled people, which attracted praise and condemnation. Getting the organisation on a stronger footing by restoring its reserves and the modernisation of processes and policies were significant but less visible. We talk to Alice and Richard about how they formed a formidable and effective partnership to achieve their aims whilst facing many challengers.  

We ask them both about how (and why) they joined Scope and what they achieved and are proud of. We explore being strategic and bold and going against those who love you. There are some revealing tales of their time working together.  

We also explore today’s challenges, what can organisations do better and what their leadership philosophies are.  

 Links

 Alice Maynard LinkedIn

 Future Inclusion

 Richard Hawkes LinkedIn

 British Asian Trust 

 Richard on X

 Scope

 Scope History

 Civil Society Media on the closures 2015 

Phil speaks of his disheartening recent experiences at A&E at his local NHS hospital. We grapple with the oh-so-simple task of trying to make the NHS better, as it feels like it’s broken, and how that can break us. 

A previous guest and friend of the pod, Abbi Brown, was recently trapped in her flat for days. The lift in her block was broken, and although there was another lift, it was beyond a locked door, and her property managers refused her access. Abbi is a wheelchair user and has now regained her independence. We talk about the nonsensical rules, why people avoid making decisions and the feeling of powerlessness and fury when we’re trapped.

Finally, a brief look at the DWPs Disability Confidence. Reports show it’s not making a difference. 

Links

BBC Abbi Brown story 

Abbi Brown on X

When Abbi Brown was our guest 

The NHS is Broken Wes Streeting MP

NHS Accident and Emergency

Nye at the National Theatre 

Disability Confidence DWP 

Disability Debrief - Disability Confidence not changing anything 

If we’re lucky in life, we might find a role that makes sense to us and makes a difference to others. Our guest this month has achieved that and more.  A huge music fan, especially of live music, and a disabled person who’d experienced barriers accessing gigs, Suzanne Bull MBE founded Attitude it Everything in 2000. It a charitable organisation which connects disabled people with music and live events industries, to improve access together. Suzanne tells us how it started, who helped and some of the many fantastic achievements to date. 

 Then, as the pandemic took hold in the UK, Suzanne was diagnosed with breast cancer. She tells us of the triple whammy of having such a diagnosis, of being a disabled woman with access needs, and it being the start of a global pandemic. Suzanne has found another passion, which she regularly blogs about. She kindly spent some time with us talking about the topic. 

Links

 Attitude Is Everything

 Attitude is Everything story

 Creative United

Someone's Survival Guide

Blog The Musings of Spu 

Banco de Gaia

 Whirl-y-gig

 LinkedIn 

 Twitter X 

 RIDC research Accessible Events 

We’ve had a show like this before, where we ask what the UK government are doing when it comes to disability and why now. We’re not sure they know what they are doing. 

PM Rishi Sunak has ‘started a conversation’ on reviewing Personal Independence Payment, the main disability benefit in the UK. He decided to start this just before the local elections and also knowing it cannot be finished before the next general election. The Guardian calls it a ‘full-on assault on disabled people’ and The Telegraph, ‘a benefits crackdown’. It appears to be aimed at people with mental health and neurological conditions, who now make up 49% of all PIP claim assessments, compared to 26% of those with muscular-skeletal conditions. 

The United Nations doesn’t cut the UK government much slack either, reporting that ‘it has made' no significant progress in more than seven years since it was found guilty of grave and systematic violations of the UN disability convention.’

Join us as we delve into the issues and talk about the perception and impact now and in the future.  

(At the time of recording, the Prime Minister hadn’t announced the general election, which is happening on 4th July 2024)

Links

BBC Ros Atkins video on PIP review

BBC Proposed changes to PIP

The Telegraph PIP Review

The Guardian PIP Review

Disability News Service ‘Seven years on and no progress on disability rights by UK government, says UN’

Disability Rights UK UN Rapporteurs Question UK Government Over Benefits Deaths and Austerity

Human Rights Watch UN Body Calls on UK to End Detention of People with Disabilities

Admitting shame is a tough thing to do. Perhaps as complex as the shameful experience itself? Clearly, it is not unique to disabled people. Is there something more with us? An additional new perceived weakness, or from internalised ableism, it is hard to ignore but easier to deny. Stigma and societal attitudes can mean we have it thrust upon us if a person, on finding out we are disabled, says, ‘What a shame.’ 

Two people inspired the topic of shame in our latest show. Natalie Illsey, a disabled creative in the US, emailed us to ask how we feel about people saying, ‘What a shame’. Damon Rose, a BBC journalist, said to Simon that we should discuss how we feel about shame.

We hope you enjoy our thoughts, which were influenced by Natalie and Damon. We’d love to get your feedback on this most difficult topic, so email us at [email protected] or find us on social media, The Way We Roll.

Links

Counselling for Disabled People SpokzPeople 

Natalie Illsey LinkedIn

Damon Rose 

Bristol City Council recently reversed their planned cost-cutting strategy, which would have impacted independent living for disabled people. The UK government recently reversed the proposed closure of ticket offices at railway stations, which would have had an impact on disabled people. Sophie Morgan, the Rights on Flights campaigner, appears to be close to getting legal rights for disabled people on flights. Is campaigning stronger than ever? We talk through the possible renaissance and ask, is it all it seems?

At the end of February this year, the UK Government’s Health Select Committee published findings on Assisted Dying / Suicide. Phil picks through its findings and gives an update on the Not Dead Yet campaign. 

We finish with good news from Europe, with Mar Galcerán making history as Spain’s first parliamentarian with Down’s syndrome. Another barrier knocked down. 

Links:

Bristol City care plans

Transport for All - Ticket offices

Rights on Flights

Health Select Committee report on Assisted Dying / Suicide

Mar Galcerán in Spanish parliament

How would you feel if your local authority suggested you move from your home of 30 years to a residential care home because they need to save money? It's something Bristol City Council were proposing for disabled people as they try to reduce their deficit. Although this proposal has been shelved, it might not be the last time we see it. We explore the reasoning, impact and resistance.

Becoming disabled can bring a complete change of outlook, and you might reflect on who you once were. The author, Hanif Kureishi (My Beautiful Launderette, The Buddha of Suburbia), lost the use of his arms and legs in late 2022. He makes headlines with his newfound frustrations and doesn't hold back, but is he, a year later, finally adjusting? We discuss how people adapt, how long it takes and how non-disabled people might ignore disability until it impacts them.

Phil and Simon are passionate about these subjects. You will hear us disagree agreeably, with added swearing and raised voices.

Links:

Hanif Kureishi: I've become a reluctant dictator

Hanif Kureishi on the 'hell' of life after his accident

The Kureishi Chronicles - Hanif's blog

Francis Ryan in the Guardian 

Think of this: a plan to 'warehouse' disabled people. What kind of nation is Britain becoming? "

‘Know your audience and communicate to as many people as you can, including disabled people’, says Sarah Brown Fraser on effective, accessible communication. That Sarah can whittle information down to valuable nuggets might be a consequence of her role as Head of Communications and Policy at the Activity Alliance. 

As our guest, Sarah is timely, with accessible and inclusive communications being a hot topic. How do we communicate effectively with a diverse audience via various methods: print, website, social media, video, web links, in-person and even emojis? Is there such a thing as a fully accessible comms? Sarah helps us with what we need to think about initially and how to adjust as we go along.

From Liverpool with aspirations to be a TV Presenter, Sarah has found her niche in communication. Before starting work, Sarah moved from Merseyside to London to study for a BA in Media Studies at the University of East London. It was the mid-90s, but she was the first student with a disability to do her course. She is also an Everton supporter.

Links

Activity Alliance

Sarah Brown Fraser LinkedIn

Business Disability Forum Inclusive Communications toolkit

Activity Alliance Effective Engagement Factsheets

UK Government Accessible Formats

Our guest is Andrew Miller, the Chief Executive Officer of Motability Operations (MO). Many of you will know of this unique organisation. Indeed, some of you will be customers. 

The Motability Scheme leases cars, powered wheelchairs and scooters to more than 700,000 disabled people in the UK. It is the largest car fleet in the UK. Andrew heads up the scheme's delivery, ensuring customers have a range of affordable options to stay mobile and ensuring the company stays on the right financial road.  

It’s not an easy job with many challenges. The switch to electric vehicles is well underway, and it disproportionately impacts disabled people in terms of access, charging accessibility and price. As MO buys and sells 200,000 cars a year, small price fluctuations can significantly impact the financial model. Still, they must also maintain a consistent offering to their customers. Stakeholders aren’t just scheme customers; there’s the oversight from the Motability Foundation, successive governments, and the press, which often take an interest. 

In an open conversation, we explore with Andrew the biggest challenges in the recent past and what the future looks like. Although he may be highly experienced in finance and business, he’s new to disability, and we check in with him to see how he is getting on.

Links:

Andrew Miller background 

Motability Scheme website 

How the scheme works 

Motability Operations corporate website

Motability Foundation