Breaking the silence on disability in the workplace

We’ve heard a lot about diversity and inclusion in workplaces, but one group is often left behind: people with disabilities, visible and invisible. Given that millions of people were allowed to work flexibly during the pandemic, how can we extend that mindset shift to make permanent improvements for staff with disabilities?

In this episode Isabel Berwick talks to campaigner Caroline Casey, founder of the Valuable 500, an alliance of 500 global chief executives who are committed to disability inclusion. Caroline points out that the silence at the top of companies sets the tone for everything that happens - since CEOs aren’t coming out as having lived experiences of disability, that allows inertia further down in their organisations. 

For an account of how it feels to be a neurodiverse employee, and the benefits that this difference brings to a team - Isabel talks to Naomi Rovnick, an FT markets reporter who was recently diagnosed with dyspraxia. 

Caroline and Naomi offer some practical next steps for managers and leaders in any organisation: it’s time to be open about disability. 

Want to read more? 

How employers ‘ghosted’ one young journalist with a declared disability by Isabelle Jani-Friend https://www-ft-com.ezp-prod1.hul.harvard.edu/content/e91c8785-8517-4f1a-b471-c80e80d6d8e2

The hidden workplace skills of those with dyspraxia by Sarah Laitner https://www-ft-com.ezp-prod1.hul.harvard.edu/content/b4255c98-ca7a-11e5-a8ef-ea66e967dd44

FT special report on modern workplaces and disability  https://www-ft-com.ezp-prod1.hul.harvard.edu/reports/modern-workplace-disability

Caroline Casey’s Valuable 500 survey on disability and inclusion reporting among FTSE 100 companies, run in partnership with British media group Tortoise  https://www.tortoisemedia.com/disability100-report/

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We love to hear from you. What do you like (or not)? What topics should we tackle? Email the team at workingit@ft.com or Isabel directly at isabel.berwick@ft.com. Follow @isabelberwick on Twitter 

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Presented by Isabel Berwick. Editorial direction from Renée Kaplan and Manuela Saragosa. Assistant producer is Persis Love. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music. Produced by Novel.

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