A quarter century since the disability discrimination act was enshrined in UK legislation: 2020 should have been a time for commemoration, reflection, and making plans.

Instead, COVID-19 has thrown our social and economic landscape into turmoil.

As we look to a “new normal”, the question we are now asking is: how will it impact our continued fight for equal access and inclusion?

Remote working

 Remote working is often the only suitable option for many disabled and chronically ill people trying to enter or stay in employment.

Yet, until the outbreak of COVID-19, it was one reasonable adjustment the majority of employers were unwilling to consider.

It just isn’t manageable, or it wouldn’t fit in with the company’s working practices; the excuses were many and varied.

However, faced with the unthinkable prospect of not surviving the pandemic; home working has become the new norm for millions of workers – and in most cases, the transition was seamless.

So to recap: home working is not only possible; it increases productivity.

Not to mention the savings on time and running costs.

Funny! Haven’t we been pointing out the obvious for years?

Now, there’s no excuse to ignore a talent pool of 7.6 million.

A more accessible social life

Ironically, the message to “stay home and save lives” has resulted in certain aspects of society opening up to disabled and chronically ill people for the first time ever.

Music venues, theatres, zoos, stately homes, whisky tastings, virtual sports, and even the world’s most famous attractions: the entertainment and creative industries have been forced to harness the power of technology to survive, and the events and sites it is now possible to experience from the comfort of our own homes are astonishing.

For many, that means no longer having to miss out on social events due to their body’s physical limitations or the constant pain they experience.

For others, still, no worrying about the barriers an inaccessible venue puts in their way.

Granted, the needs of disabled people were never at the forefront of these developments, but it does feel as if we have taken a step closer to the inclusive world we all dream of.

Empathy not sympathy

The inaccessible design of our streets, buildings, and communal spaces often leaves disabled people struggling to get around safely, with many ending up largely housebound.

Design flaws which were literally brought home to our wider society as the pandemic took hold.

They got a taster of what it was like to be trapped indoors, despite being perfectly capable of contributing to society, and the result is greater empathy and understanding of the challenges of having limited mobility.

Let’s hope it translates into an increased willingness to listen to our voices in the future planning of infrastructure.

Fears of discrimination becoming commonplace again