Disabled by Society

Me: maybe one day I’ll scroll through my social media feeds and every image I come across will have alt text. Also me: today is not that day. This blind girl can hope right?

Just because I can’t eat, doesn’t mean I dont want to be included. The festive period is around the corner, and it can be one of the most difficult times living with a feeding tube, as even more so than it usual, talk and gatherings of food heighten. So how do we promote inclusion for everyone around the table? 1. Access to facilities and private spaces: always provide access to a private space for somebody to disconnect or connect their tubes, which is clean and private and bathrooms with sanitatary bins. 2. Respectful curiosity and judgement free: never judge, stare, ask intrusive questions to anybody who may not be eating, eating something different, or has different food habits. Any questions should be asked respectfully and with the intent of inclusion not embarrassment. 3. Ask before laying a place at the table: some people like to have a place laid for them even if they are not eating, others do not. Some people will bring their own implements and food so always ask in advance what makes that person feel most comfortable. 4. Shift focus away from food and drink: ensure that games, conversations and activities are not just focused around the food and drink to be inclusive of fun for everyone. Where food is a central part of something, think of providing alternatives such as a table activities. 5. Ask about food and drink in advance: ask someone’s preferences about what they need well in advance to avoid making anyone feel uncomfortable for declining or not being able to join in. Remember most people with feeding tubes can still eat but usually specific or small amounts. 6. Welcome those bringing their own food: feeding tube users often have safe foods which don’t upset their stomachs, or a strict diet they must adhere to, so always welcome people brining their own food with them. 7. Respect allergies and triggers: always ask someone’s dietary requirements in advance, and take strict care with cross-contamination. Also be conscious of certain foods which might be triggering. 8. Reserve space at the end of the table/exit: if set places try and place someone with a tube at the end of the table or near facilities so they feel more able to get and down from the table. 9. Don’t forget our invite to events: just because we might not participate in the same way, doesn’t mean we don’t want to be included! #Disability #Disabled #FeedingTube #Food #Christmas Image description: The image is a black square graphic, across the top in white and bold writing it reads ‘How to: feeding tubes, inclusion at the table’. In the top right hand corner is a picture of Celia and Jamie, Jamie has a cream cake in his hand in front of Celia, she is leaning down with wide eyes to smell it. Underneath are nine yellow, pink and blue coloured boxes with heading text and little descriptive symbols using the headings from the points of this written text above. In the bottom right hand corner is the Disabled By Society logo in pink and white.

Are You Planning A Festive Gathering? Inviting People Over To Rock Around The Christmas Tree? Or Simply Having A Wonderful Christmas Time? Here Are Some Tips To Make Your Holidays More Inclusive... Image Description: A Disabled by Society graphic. Set on an off-black/ purplish background a border of Christmas stockings, candy canes and holly dangle from the top. The title reads, “Tips To Make The Holidays More Inclusive…”. Below are 9 curved squares with a statement and clipart which read, Avoid Flickering Lights. Don’t Comment On Eating Habits. Offer Non-Alcoholic Alternatives. Consider Dietary Requirements. Not Everyone Is A Social Butterfly. Respect Sensory Sensitivities. Provide A Quiet Space. Choose Accessible Games. Don’t Force Participation. #TuesdayThoughts #DisabledBySociety #DisabilityIncluison #Holidays

Disabled by Society’s 2024 Christmas gift guide! Give the gift of accessibility this holiday 🎄 We’ve gathered together a diverse list of our favourite Disability-led or Disability focused organisations championing accessibility and inclusion for Disabled people, with our favourite products of the year, and the perfect accessible gifts for 2024. 1. Braille Bricks by the LEGO Group. 2. Sunflower Bear by Hidden Disabilities Sunflower 💜. 3. Diverse Barbie’s by Mattel, Inc. 4. Accessible underwear by Liberare. 5. Central line jumpers by Porto&Bello. 6. Accessible makeup by Human Beauty. 7. Children’s books by Happy Smiles Training 😁👍. 8. Purple socks by BAM Clothing. 9. Earplugs by Loop Earplugs. 10. Petite and under clothing by Chamiah Dewey. 12. Christmas candles by Scope. 13. Seated fashion by Intotum. 14. Adapted cookbook by Ian "Mr Cookfulness" Taverner. 15. Walking sticks by Neo Walk. 16. Adapted gaming controller by Xbox. 17. Crutch covers by Cool Crutches & Walking Sticks. 18. Fidget toys by Sensory Direct. 19. Ring splints by Silver Ring Splint Company. 20. Hot water battle by Blue Badge Co. 21. Wheelchair wheel covers by Izzy Wheels. #Disability #Disabled #Accessible #GiftGuide #Adapted Image description: The image shows a rectangular graphic with a black background. Running across the top is Christmas bunting with presents, stockings, candy canes and holly in pink, purple and green. Underneath it reads ‘2024 Christmas Gift Guide, give the gift of accessibility this holidays’ in pink and white bold text, above it is the Disabled by Society logo also in pink and white. Underneath in 5 rows of 4 are the products mentioned in this post with white and pink text, and a picture of each of the products.

I’m not crying, you are! 😭 Last night, my incredible co-founder/ bestie and I won three awards at the Recruitment Industry Disability Initiative (RIDI) Awards! We came first in one category, were highly commended in another, and were then voted as the overall winner! All under our former brand name, Unlearning Ableism, now Disabled by Society. Okay, maybe I am crying, but they’re happy tears! Whilst I couldn’t be there in person, please know that my neighbours definitely heard my happiness as I sat in my office screaming and shouting, “OMG!” This year has been one giant leap of faith, and I couldn’t be more proud to have done it with the most incredible business partner, friend, and absolute rock, Celia! 💜 Thank you to the RIDI team, the judges, and everyone who voted for us. We are so blown away! I’m speechless, and anyone who knows me knows that’s a rarity. Image description: Celia, a white female wearing a cropped blue jacket with a long blue dress and cream heels, blonde hair and glasses, is standing in front of a yellow and purple banner with the RIDI logo and the sponsors at the bottom. Celia is beaming from ear to ear clutching three awards in her hands as she collects on behalf of Unlearning Ableism now Disabled by Society. #FridayFeeling #DisabledBySociety #Proud #SoProud

What a night! 3 awards, and the ‘winners’ of the ‘winners’ award 🥇 We are so grateful to everybody that has supported the work we are doing over the past year. It has been incredible to watch Disabled by Society go from strength to strength, driving forward tangible and systematic change in defeating ableism for Disabled people across the world. An enormous thank you to everyone at Recruitment Industry Disability Initiative (RIDI) for hosting a very special 10th anniversary of the awards and for supporting the work we are doing. To the judging panel and to the audience who voted us the overall winners of the evening. We cannot wait to keep pushing higher and bigger with everything we have, making the world and workplace a more equitable place for Disabled people. Thank you ♥️ Jamie Shields & Celia Chartres-Aris (née Hensman) (Co-Founders of Unlearning Ableism and Disabled by Society) #Disabled #Disability #Recruitment #Awards #UnlearningAbleism Image description: our Co-Founder Celia, a white female wearing a cropped blue jacket with a long blue dress and cream heels, blonde hair and glasses, is standing in front of a yellow and purple banner with the RIDI logo and the sponsors at the bottom. Celia is beaming from ear to ear clutching three awards in her hands.

We did it. 3 awards in one night. And the ‘winners’ of the ‘winners’ award 🥇 Words cannot express how incredibly proud I am of the incredible work of the entire Disabled by Society team, who really are driving forward sustained, tangible and systemic change. Thank you so much to everyone at Recruitment Industry Disability Initiative (RIDI), the judging panel and every single member of the audience who voted us as overall winners of the evening. Although my fabulous co-founding extraordinaire couldn’t be there in person…bestie Jamie Shields I am so fudging proud of us, we did it 🎉 We really are so grateful for all the incredible support we have recieved over the last year, and we cannot wait to keep pushing forward going bigger and higher for all of us ♥️ #Disabled #Disability #Recruitment #Awards #Neurodiversity Image description: Celia, a white female wearing a cropped blue jacket with a long blue dress and cream heels, blonde hair and glasses, is standing in front of a yellow and purple banner with the RIDI logo and the sponsors at the bottom. Celia is beaming from ear to ear clutching three awards in her hands.

RIDI Awards 2024 Winner 🏆 The 2024 Greatest Impact RIDI Award as voted for by the audience and presented by Maria Grazia Zedda (CMgr EDI) goes to Unlearning Ablesim! Unlearning Ableism is on a mission to tackle ableism, one of the most overlooked and under-addressed forms of discrimination in society, despite 17% of the world’s population identifying as Disabled. Every day, millions of disabled people face exclusion, inaccessibility, and both macro and micro-aggressions, perpetuating a cycle of oppression. Through partnerships with individuals and organisations, Unlearning Ableism works to dismantle ingrained ableism across cultures, recruitment, policies, products, and services. With initiatives like a ground-breaking policy paper featuring unprecedented data, a live series, a podcast, and a diverse team of specialists, they are driving systemic change to build an inclusive, accessible, and empowering society for all. Congratulations Unlearning Ableism 👏🙌 #RIDIawards #InclusionRevolution #DisabilityInclusion #InclusiveRecruitment #AwardsCeremony Disability Confident Jamie Shields Celia Chartres-Aris (née Hensman) Disabled by Society

RIDI Awards 2024 Highly Commended Creating Disability Confident Recruiters sponsored by The Clear Company and presented by James Chave. The Highly Commended Award goes to Disabled by Society (Unlearning Ableism) Disabled by Society is dedicated to addressing ableism, a widespread yet often overlooked form of discrimination affecting 17% of the global population. By partnering with individuals and organisations, they tackle ableism in cultures, recruitment, policies, and services. They are driving systemic change toward a more inclusive and accessible society through initiatives such as research, policy papers and a podcast. Congratulations Disabled by Society👏🙌 #RIDIawards #InclusionRevolution #DisabilityInclusion #InclusiveRecruitment #AwardsCeremony Disability Confident Jamie Shields Celia Chartres-Aris (née Hensman) Disabled by Society

It's RIDI Awards day and we invite you to join the ceremony livestream this evening at 6.30pm to celebrate the trailblazers in disability inclusion across the recruitment industry. Prepare to be inspired by the commitment and creativity of our incredible finalists as we share their stories and crown our winners across all nine categories. Witness the announcement of this year’s winners, hear from inspiring speakers, and be part of a movement driving real change. Don’t miss the chance to support inclusive recruitment from wherever you are! Register - https://bit.ly/RIDI24LS 📢 RIDI Awards 2024 Finalists 🏆 Building Disability Confidence Arts Council England Irwin Mitchell Disabled by Society XPS Group 🏆 Creating Disability Confident Recruiters Irwin Mitchell Public Sector Resourcing by AMS Randstad Academy for Talent (RAFT), part of Randstad Sourceright. Disabled by Society 🏆 Disability Confident - Private Sector DWF and their Early Careers Team GXO Logistics, Inc. Public Sector Resourcing by AMS Randstad Academy for Talent (RAFT), part of Randstad Sourceright. 🏆 Disability Confident - Public Sector / Non Profit Devon Partnership NHS Trust Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust The Crumbs Project University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust 🏆 Disability Specialist Meghan Reed, Evenbreak Opulent Access Events & Consulting, Elaine Hughes SIC Disabled by Society 🏆 Inclusive Recruitment Campaign Irwin Mitchell Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Randstad Academy for Talent (RAFT), part of Randstad Sourceright. 🏆 Inclusive Technology Clu Danone UK&I The Stepstone Group Write Recruit 🏆 Pioneer of the Year - Agency/Organisation/Team AMS/PSR - Diversity Alliance Fair Shot Café Randstad Academy for Talent (RAFT), part of Randstad Sourceright SIC 🏆 Pioneer of the Year - Individual Emma Mendes da Costa Mimouna Mahdaoui Natalie Collingwood and Sehar Mir Bob Edwards #RIDIawards #InclusionRevolution #DisabilityInclusion #InclusiveRecruitment #AwardsCeremony Disability Confident Kate Headley, Karina Townley, Kate Shoesmith, Natalie Penrose, Jane Hatton, Evan Knutson, Mark Lomas, Pauline Miller (Chartered, Samantha Hurley, Paul Deemer, Tamsin McCarthy, Gavin Lawrie