About Us

The social model of disability underpins all our work, and we recognise that Disabled people experience vast and varied barriers. These are frequently compounded depending on their identity. Disability Rights UK is inclusive to and works for the equality of all Disabled people – regardless of their gender identity, race, sexuality, or religion.

We are committed to improving representation across the board within our organisation and aim to take an intersectional approach in all we do. We understand that, although our barriers and experiences may differ, all fights for inclusion, equality and equity benefit everyone.

Our key decisions are made through our members who elect the Board of Trustees: and by our Leadership Team (LT). We work with our members to influence national policy on independent living, benefits, education, employment, transport, human rights and other issues - shaping policy through direct experience and expertise. We also work with our local individual and organisation members to empower and to influence local policy and services.

Our Trustees and staff between them have a wide range of personal experiences of disability including mental health issues, autistic spectrum, learning difficulties, sensory impairments, long-term health conditions and mobility impairments.

We work hard to be inclusive and to understand and reflect the interests of everyone living with disability/health conditions.  Our staff and Trustees come from a range of communities and backgrounds, including different faiths and minority ethnic communities.

Vision

To create an inclusive society where Disabled people have equal power, rights and equality of opportunity.

Mission

To support the Disability Rights movement campaigning for the rights and justice of all Disabled people.

We work together to build the capacity of Disabled People’s Organisations including DR UK, engaging and networking to speak with a unifying voice on the inequality that affects our lives.

We bring the lived experiences of Disabled people to everything we do. We challenge policy makers, institutions and individuals to remove the barriers that exist for us as Disabled people.

Values Statements

Disabled people matter because we are here, because we belong, and because we are part of human diversity. Human beings are wondrously different in so many ways and we celebrate this.

• We uphold Disabled people’s human rights and oppose racism and all forms of discrimination.
• We are driven by the experience of Disabled people in all its richness.
• We think that kindness and consideration are strengths and a necessary force for change.
• We live by the principle of ‘Nothing about us without us’ to ensure our full participation in everything that affects us.

Strategic Goals

1. Support, build and engage in the Disability Rights movement
   1. Ensure DR UK’s place is understood in the community and sector we operate, and that we are clear about our role.
   2. Continually develop our understanding of engagement with Disabled people, allies and the wider society.
   3. Create opportunities for feedback and co-production where possible.
       
2. Grow ourselves and the DPO sector
   1. Help to build capacity and resilience of our sector (Disabled People’s Organisations - DPO).
   2. Create a supportive environment for DPOs – through networking and engagement.
   3. Grow our capacity with purpose and resilience.
       
3. Advocate for change
   1. Influence UK Gov, national regulators and institutions
   2. Influence local decision makers through working with local/regional DPOs.
   3. Work to unify the voice of Disabled people.
       
4. Develop our knowledge and understanding
   1. Capture our impact – through strategic and targeted evaluation.
   2. Work in partnership to develop the evidence base.
   3. Share our learning.
       
5. Advise and inform
   1. High-quality advice and information to DPOs and Disabled people of their rights and how to claim them.
   2. Stakeholders (organisations and institutions) on the social model of disability, co-production and inclusive practice.

At Disability Rights UK, we know that the Disabled community in the UK is full of talent, skill, and leadership potential. However, we also recognise that too often, structural barriers prevent Disabled people—particularly those from diverse backgrounds and those who experience intersecting marginalisation—from stepping into leadership roles, including on charity boards.

We are committed to breaking down these barriers. This starts with looking at ourselves, which is why we have established our Board of Trustees Mentoring Scheme—designed to support and develop Disabled people who aspire to join charity boards, including ours.

For those who apply to join our board but do not yet have direct experience as trustees, our mentoring scheme will provide the guidance and support needed to build confidence, develop governance skills, and gain first-hand insights into board-level decision-making. We do not want lack of experience to be a barrier to leadership.

Through this initiative, we aim to create a pathway for more Disabled people—especially those from underrepresented backgrounds—to take up leadership roles. We want to ensure that charity boards, including ours, reflect the full diversity of the Disabled community and are strengthened by the voices and perspectives of people with multiple marginalised identities.

Kamran Mallick, CEO, Disability Rights UK
Liz Leach, Chair, Disability Rights UK