In my previous article, I navigated the working life of women with disabilities, including mine, to empower our position.

You can read this HERE!

Whilst I felt quite successful in doing so, I believe the conversation should not be left there.

54.4% of disabled women were working between 2023 to 2024. Types of disabilities can include paralysis, pain, chronic illness, impaired vision or hearing, not forgetting mental health. According to the statistics, that places me in a group of approximately 1.2 million other women in the UK alone, also striving for success.

From someone who has oftentimes faced physical challenges myself, I would like this article to lead with the viewpoint that physical barriers do not shape disabled women’s work experiences and there is more to their minds.

It is important to recognise that it can, instead, enhance resilience and creativity. In a world that may not always be designed for women with disabilities, I believe this can lead to better problem-solving skills and an ability to adapt quickly, even creating a stronger work ethic.

The mental resilience that disabled women develop through their own experiences is helpful for other people to understand them.

Breaking down the numbers

My reasons for discussing facts and figures surrounding disabled women and work stemmed from the Sisters of Frieda website that I stumbled across, in which they work on ‘bringing disabled women together, mobilising and sharing through lived experiences.’

The need to campaign for or empower disabled women usually comes from statistics presented under multiple themes.

In terms of pay and employment, and from reports based on 2016, 35% of disabled women are paid below the National Living Wage in the UK. This is 5% more than that of disabled men. Even so, disabled women also have lower participation rates in higher-skilled work in comparison to disabled men and able-bodied women.

In terms of health and medical care, a study, again from 2016 found that only 19% of disabled women said that reasonable adjustments were made for them under maternity care.

Whilst statistics surrounding disabled women and work are important in highlighting disparities, there is so much more we can focus on to help empower their positions. By shifting the focus from statistics to qualitative aspects such as the incredible capabilities and contributions of disabled women, we can create a more uplifting narrative that draws attention and inspires without the negative connotations.

I think that it is also important to note that throughout my search for facts and statistics on the working life of disabled women, oftentimes the results seemed somewhat outdated as I would like to believe that workspaces and employers are more forward-thinking in 2025.

Whether this is the case or not, I believe that the representation of disabled working women should be defined by what they have contributed rather than statistics listing a lack of participation in work.

Success Taking Place

Perhaps it is the case that there is too much of a focus just on what people see rather than taking the time to understand what disabled women can contribute to workspaces. Restrictions around the employability of women with disabilities is restrictive of future innovation.

Whether it is a disabled woman, an able bodied-woman or a disabled man, all are very much capable of bringing the same greatness to the table.  

Kathy Martinez is a disability rights advocate who has served as the Assistant Secretary of the Office of Disability Employment Policy in the U.S. Department of Labour. Being born blind, she has worked to improve employment opportunities for women with disabilities, like herself.

In an interview for Working Nation, Kathy states that ‘disability is one dimension that crosses all other diversity dimensions.’  This statement resonated with me in the sense that it adopts the idea of not addressing disability in isolation but understands it as an intersection with other diversity dimensions.

It helps to advocate for more comprehensive support systems that respect all identities without singling them out.

In her interview, Martinez goes on to explain about winning a case where an agreement was made to make 85% of the Metro accessible for everybody in the next 30 years. It sets a precedent whereby ‘people see the value of accessible transportation, accessible education, accessible employment.’

Not only does her work benefit people with disabilities, but it benefits everybody.

Kathy Martinez's work is crucial in amplifying the position of disabled working women, as she actively challenges and transforms the negative barriers to successful employment.

By promoting inclusivity and accessibility, she demonstrates that statistics do not matter, and it does not define potential. Instead, her leadership and commitment to creating equal opportunities empower disabled women to pursue careers confidently.

Disability and Innovation

Disability and innovation intersect in powerful ways, as advancements in technology often emerge from the understanding to create more accessible solutions for everyone. Despite the negative stats surrounding disability employment, innovation can continue to thrive, in which the quality of disabled women's working life is improved, here is an example:

Megan Lawrence is a prominent advocate for disability inclusion, particularly in the tech industry. Inspired by her mental health disability, she has worked with various organizations to promote accessibility and ensure that workplaces are inclusive, including being the Global Director of Accessibility at Nike.

Furthermore, Megan has worked with tech companies to produce the best services possible for inclusive design, ensuring that they can be used by everyone, such as working with the Shepherd Center, a rehabilitation hospital in Atlanta.

She helped to create the Accessibility User RA program that pays people with disability to give feedback on design, engineering, retail experiences, apparel, and more.

So, whilst negative statistics may paint a discouraging picture of disability and work, the ongoing innovation in this field from the likes of Megan Lawrence demonstrates a forward-thinking approach that challenges narratives.

‘Nothing about us, without us.’

Celebrating the employability and efforts of disabled women not only highlights their invaluable contributions but also recognises diverse talents. By focusing on this sort of empowerment, we can create more pathways for disabled women to thrive in the workforce.

The Importance of Talking

I have now written two articles, one that spoke about my own personal experience as a disabled woman working and one that continues the conversation to portray that our minds are more powerful than any barriers we may face.

Together, I believe that by sharing stories and continuing to talk about the topic of disability, we can inspire change and obtain a deeper understanding of the triumphs within the disabled community in the workforce. By keeping this dialogue alive, we can value the work of disabled women and create an equal and enabling culture.

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