Launch of the Independent Disability Advisory Panel: Can we trust the process?

 On January 23, 2026, the government officially announced the Independent Disability Advisory Panel. This will be a new panel of 10 representatives from the Disability sector, all people with lived experience of disability. The panel will be chaired by Zara Tood with the aim giving views on policy related to health and disability. They will work with ministers in relation to initiatives such as Access to Work and The Disability Confident Scheme. However, it appears they will not be directly involved in the Timms Reviews of Welfare Reform.

People within the disability community particularly those working within the (raises hands to make speech marks) disability sector may raise their eyes at this news and I get it. What will change? Will they be listened to? Is this a gravy train for some leading lights of the disability sector? And those sceptical can have their view. I’m as sceptical as the next person about the construction of these panels. In fact I’ve got a gold medal in scepticism in general. But I do see this panel as necessary. Last year there was noise coming out of the sector of that some wanted to walk away from any steering groups that were government related. This was in particular in relation to the then forthcoming (or let’s be honest ongoing) welfare reforms that have now been confirmed. There was a sense that sitting on steering groups was siding with the devil. After all, for many disabled people in the UK they feel they have been let down by successive governments in regards to benefits, social care, housing and work, all areas that have seen decades of cuts in one way or another. News of more cuts were seen by many as yet another betrayal whilst the rhetoric delivered to non-disabled voters seemed liked the messaging of 1997 New Labour, “Things Can Only Get Better”. Well things can hardly get worse, except that they can and to be fair they haven’t delivered on any of that noise. But at least they were sold a dream. They only thing they seemed to be peddling to disabled people was more misery and re-marketing of old failed schemes to improve things whilst taking more things away in the next announcement.

Saying this we need voices at the table to speak our truths to power. This is regardless of the outcome. What do they say about regret? It’s better to regret the things you did than the things not done. Well even if what feels like the inevitability of even more losses of rights to come to fruition for disabled people then at least we as a community can say (those of us that can) spoke against it.

For those who are against this process and representatives who are on this board, think about this: You can call these reps shills or sellouts or whatever derogative terms that suits people but ultimately if anyone is going to perform the role of speaking truth to power then this is formal route it will take. Why? Because that’s how those in power has curated the route and opportunity to do so. People get elevated to certain positions based on work they have done formally or informally or often both, they get noticed, the gain influence and those with power view them as thought leaders in whatever given field they are in. That’s life.

Don’t hate the player, hate the game. Or better still don’t hate at all, get dealt into the game and work your own magic in order to have your say. If you don’t like the idea of such boards or formal approach to negotiating or consulting with power. find your own way to speak your truth. I have no problem with such boards as a concept I just think that in practise there are a performative hoax. I don’t think anyone really wants to hear disabled people’s views. Not really. I don’t genuinely think there is or ever really has been a true genuine appetite to empower disabled people to live the life they choose in the truest sense.

I look at the political climate in the UK in and I think there is a perfect storm of dystopian policy that flies in the face of true disability equality. Whether it be welfare reform, house accessibility, thirty odd years on from the DDA 1995 and accessibility feels as bad as ever in transport and housing, not to mention the spectre of the Assisted Dying Act; all of which just feels like whatever wins disabled people had made in the 90’s and early noughties have largely disappeared. This is why I doubt this announcement; it feels to me like political marketing rather than a true attempt to listen to disabled people.

We haven’t been listened to for over a decade and a half. Let’s be honest the welfare reforms are a continuation of the austerity that started post the 2008 financial crash. And if we’re being truthful there was austerity in disabled people’s lives well before that, social care cuts had been happening long before 2008. And those who rely on community care, care in the home and or direct payments or individual budgets as they’re now know are more than aware of that.

But here we are and as it stands we as a community have been given a voice (metaphorically or literally) at the table. That’s regardless of how I or anyone else feels about the structure, motives or effectiveness of the process. Now more than ever if we don’t at least give our views, we’ll regret it irrespective of the outcome. After all we never know who’s listening. We could resonate with other political figures outside of those at the table, or other influential figures whether it be in business, culture other political groups. Our ideas could spark alliances with others internationally. Political figures here might not want to listen but we could spark other political figures to act in another country and that could have a ripple effect and inspire later change over here. You never know either way those who have power and opportunity to have their say should do so because they can. And also because we don’t know if we will still have the chance to in the future.

I’m not trying to suggest we are going to turn into a totalitarian state where free speech is banned (although some will argue we’re already travelling in that direction) but who knows where we are heading? We are seeing the rise of cultural tensions on the political spectrum, we are seeing increasing inequality, the poor are getting poorer. If we stay silent, then where do we go from there? Tweet, email your opinion, do a TikTok, make a YouTube, Instagram, write a song, a poem, a story, if you’ve got something to say it. And if you’re against a representation board at least you’ve had your say if you’re able to do so. After all, the reason you’re given a voice is to use it.