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Hidden disabilities still ignored by creative industries
Design has the power to permeate every product, moment and solution in our lives – with immense opportunity for change. Yet, the design industry is still lagging in demographic diversity, disability and cultural inclusion. Why is that?
Articles continue to be shared every week, and conferences regularly framed around the topic of low percentages in ethnic minorities and women designers in leadership positions.
While these underrepresented groups remain, the gravest problems involve people with ‘invisible’ disabilities such as mental illnesses (depression), learning disabilities (dyslexia) and behavioural conditions (autism).
Regardless of what the UK Equality Act demands, employers fail to make ‘reasonable adjustments’ to suit the needs of disabled employees. A phrase which is open to too much interpretation and dismissed without any real consequence.
It’s sickening to see agencies jump on the bandwagon of World Mental Health Day, when in reality this support is little more than PR.
Somehow physical environment changes are considered higher than, attitudes, processes and technology. If an employee in a wheelchair were required to walk up two flights of stairs, there would be uproar. However, it is equally wrong to ask someone with autism to…
