The annual International Day of Persons with Disabilities takes place on Wednesday 03 December 2025 this year.
This year’s theme for International Day of Persons with Disabilities is ‘fostering disability-inclusive societies for advancing social progress’. The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs reinforces that in every region persons with disabilities continue to face the persistent barrier of limited access to decent work and lower wages, gaps in social protection, especially for those in the informal sector and unequal access to assistive technologies and accessible environments.
It is therefore fitting to emphasise how your business can ensure that it is fostering a disability inclusive culture.
Under the Equality Act 2010, Section 6 defines a disability as a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on a person’s ability to carry out normal day to activities.
One such way that your business may be able to embody the goals of International day of Persons with Disabilities is to ensure that action is taken for disability inclusion. You can work towards achieving an inclusive and accessible environment for all through the provision of reasonable adjustments.
Such reasonable adjustments may include:
- The utilisation of assistive technology;
- Providing information in alternative formats where necessary (such as large print, braille or easy read);
- Providing British Sign Language interpreters;
- Offering quiet spaces / quiet times for those with sensory difficulties to access your services;
- Allowing service users to contact you using their preferred method (including by telephone, email or letter);
- Ensuring that you have an accessible environment for employees and service users (for example by installing ramps and providing accessible toilets where possible).
It is important that reasonable adjustments are discussed directly with the disabled individual so that their unique needs can be met. Whilst it is not essential to provide every adjustment that an individual requests, it is important to note that any requested adjustments should be considered in each instance to establish whether the request is reasonable or whether any alternatives may be available.
If you believe that you have not been provided with reasonable adjustments when accessing a service, our specialist Discrimination Law Team may be able to advise you and assist you in bringing a claim under the Equality Act 2010.
Alternatively, if you are a business who is seeking advice on the reasonable adjustments that you could make to foster a disability inclusive environment in line with the Equality Act 2010, or if you have received a complaint of discrimination or had a claim brought against you, please contact our specialist discrimination law team on 0161 696 6170 for advice surrounding the provision of reasonable adjustments generally and, if necessary, assistance in defending discrimination claims.
Blog author: Lucas Hardman
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