PHIL FRIEND

I hadn’t been to NAIDEX for a long time. Years, in fact. So when I wheeled into the NEC in Birmingham last week, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. What I found was extraordinary. And not just for the reasons you might think. Standing or sitting room only I was there to speak. Three of us on a stage — me, Simon Minty, and Abbie Brown — on the subject of employment. The stage was open to the exhibition floor. There were stands all around us, people rolling by, the general hub

New figures this week show that one in eleven disabled people is now unemployed. That's the highest rate in six years. And disabled people are losing jobs at nearly ten times the rate of non-disabled people. The government is concerned. Charities are alarmed. Reports are being written. But here's the thing. We're not short of explanations. We've known for decades that disabled people face discrimination at the very first hurdle — the job application. Cardiff University rese

I keep seeing articles about the “untapped talent” of disabled people. The phrase pops up with the reliability of a well-worn sitcom rerun. It’s meant warmly, I know. But after thirty-plus years in this field, I can’t help feeling a familiar mix of frustration and quiet amusement. Because if this really were a new idea, I must have dreamt most of the 1990s. The Numbers Haven’t Moved Much Here’s the reality. In 2024, just over half of working-age disabled people in the UK wer

In November, I’ll turn 80. It feels a bit like I’m sitting astride the mountain of life, catching my breath and looking back at the path I’ve climbed. The journey has been long, sometimes steep, sometimes surprising, and now I find myself reflecting on what I’ve learned along the way. No Regrets The first thing I’ve realised is that regrets are a waste of time. I don’t mean I’ve always made brilliant choices — far from it. But even when I didn’t get what I wanted, something b

If Peter Pan needed a wheelchair, he’d probably end up grounded too. Travelling as a powered wheelchair user is like playing a game of “What’s the Worst That Could Happen?” Spoiler: The house always wins. For many of us, flying is an anxiety-inducing circus. Will our wheelchairs arrive intact? Will they arrive at all? Will we be stranded without essential equipment? And heaven forbid nature calls mid-flight—aircraft toilets are about as accessible as the dark side of the moo

Donald Trump’s recent comments linking diversity and inclusion (D&I) initiatives to the tragic plane crash in the Potomac are as reckless as they are dangerous. He claimed that previous administrations' focus on DEI led to the hiring of unqualified air traffic controllers, suggesting that these policies prioritized diversity over competence. Trump stated, "I put safety first. Obama, Biden and the Democrats put policy first," implying that DEI efforts compromised safety standa

The UK Government has set its sights on reducing the number of disabled people reliant on benefits. With the cost of disability benefits now surpassing defence spending, ministers argue that reform is overdue. But behind the statistics and spending figures lie real lives and challenges—ones that can’t be fixed with quick cuts or tougher rules. The Rising Cost of Disability Benefits Disability benefit claims have surged significantly in recent years. According to the Departmen