Disability is a spectrum and we’re all on it

British Paralympian and keynote speaker Stef Reid explains why disability issues are relevant to everyone, not just those with disabilities. We all benefit when societies are fully inclusive.

There is no longer a dedicated Minister of State for Disabled People in the UK.  The previous minister was reassigned so two ministers could oversee migration instead of one.  And it happened while the UK was celebrating Disability History Month. 

As a citizen of the UK who also happens to be an amputee, this hurts.                                     

Government statistics state that 52,530 irregular migrants were detected in the year ending June 2023.

Government statistics also state that there are 16 million disabled people in the UK as of August 2020.

The numbers speak for themselves. 

But it’s bigger than the number 16 million.  It’s about the 68 million human beings who live in the UK.  Disability is a spectrum. We are all on that spectrum together and we will all move across it throughout our lives. 

Consider accessibility.  We tend to associate accessible transport with wheelchairs.  But what about:

• New parents with buggies trying to get up and down stairs. 

• Travellers with suitcases. 

• People with temporary injuries like sprained ankles or bad backs, or people recovering from strokes who still need to get to work and carry on with their lives. 

Whether you are able bodied, temporarily disabled, or permanently disabled, we all benefit from a society where everyone can thrive and reach their potential.

This kind of society doesn’t just happen.  It is hard, nuanced work.  But it is possible and I explain the concept in my Ted Talk.

 Please write to your MPs