Section 3: Role models and lived experience

Role models, and highlighting lived experience, can be incredibly powerful especially to those considering applying to your firm.  

Do  

• Feature role models and profiles of disabled colleagues in communications.  
• Facilitate the above by creating a guide for colleagues on how to do this well.  

Remember  

• Colleagues may not be comfortable publicly discussing a disability (particularly if it is a hidden disability). Support them throughout the process and note that they can request any information to be removed from communications at any time.  
• Review content from time to time.  

Don’t  

• Assume people want to be a role model. This can be additional work to busy professionals. It is a choice.  
• Assume that you have continued consent to share information.  
• Overburden a small number of staff. Getting the balance right is important.  
• Forget intersectionality. This refers to the multiple facets of your identity and how they intertwine to create pattersn of privilege or discrimination.