In the UK alone, 14.6 million people are disabled, including 21% of working-age adults, according to the figures from the government. Yet when it comes to disability inclusion in the workplace, there is still a long way to go, according to a Raconteur panel of experts speaking in honour of Disability Pride month.
“We are the largest minority group,” says Mark Esho, founder of social enterprise The Circle Foundation. “But, to a certain extent, we’ve got the least power.”
Part of this, he says, is down to the attitude of many leaders when it comes to bringing disabled people into their organisations. A study conducted by recruitment company PageGroup in December 2021 found that almost a quarter (22%) of business leaders say they are unlikely to hire candidates with known disabilities.