Disability Inclusive Research Groups will improve how you authentically represent Disabled people in your media.

The Need for Research Groups

Both Born Equal Consults and With Not For share aligned values in ensuring that disability inclusion isn't overlooked when it comes to seeking diverse perspectives and insight, whether that's in internal teams, research or campaigns and representation in the media. 

Creating 'with' Disabled people and 'not for' them is something we collectively practice and facilitate and our Research Groups are a straightforward and a powerful way for any business to start. 

The Need for Representation

New Channel 4 insight revealed that only 4% of TV adverts in the UK feature Disabled people, compared to 22% of the UK population who are Disabled. Our respective work is human-centric and based around lived experiences and this felt like another tangible way to ensure Disabled people and their valuable insights are included and considered within work and campaigns that our clients and brands seek to engage them with.

Where to start

Are you a creative, agency or brand looking for insight on how to best represent Disabled talent in your media campaign? 

We have a solution. Our recent Research Group film includes Disabled intersectional voices from the deaf, wheelchair user, and invisible Disability communities discussing how authentic Disability representation in advertising campaigns is and what can be improved. 

This hour-long insightful conversation will be available to purchase and download from our website this month and here’s why we think it’s important for you to see it…

What we think

Kelly Gordon, Co-Founder of With Not For.

“We have a shared desire to change the face of ED&I within the creative industries. We each have our own knowledge and lived experience to share with businesses who want to represent Disabled talent authentically in their media campaigns.”

Kelly has experience in the advertising industry, football industry, the education system and everywhere in between, and says ‘no subject is off limits.’

Deborah Campbell, Co-Founder of Born Equal Consults

“Words and the way we say them make all the difference to how we connect. Language matters, when we get it wrong, invariably through lack of knowledge, ableism is an unwanted outcome which can alienate and hurt Disabled people. Our research groups are a perfect opportunity to learn from Disabled people's lived experience and to include them in the discussion right at the start of a campaign or a project.”

Deborah is the author of this article and has experience as an entrepreneur in fashion design, marketing, greenwashing, supply chain management, ED&I, anti-ableism, anti-racism. She is also a regular visiting lecturer in Disability Language and Design and Greenwashing.  

To learn more about our research groups visit contact kelly.gordon@withnotfor.co.uk or deborah.campbell@bornequalconsults.com