Last Modified: 6 January 2021
Welcome to the Disability Smart Toolkit.
Use this Toolkit to find resources that can help you as you complete the Disability Smart (DS) Self-Assessment. (available to Members and Partners only). The resources follow the ten sections of the DS Self-Assessment.
You can view a contents list of the resources here, or browse them using the navigation tools below.
Thank you to the following organisations in helping us review the revised Disability Smart framework. The support of the following organisations is very much appreciated:
- BBC
- Burberry
- Royal Bank of Scotland
- Unilever
- University of Warwick.
Toolkit Resources
Section 1: Leadership
Foreword to the Disability Smart Toolkit by Aline Santos-Farhat of Unilever
Aline Santos-Farhat is Chief Brand Officer and Chief Equity Diversity & Inclusion Officer at Unilever.
First actions to becoming a Disability Smart organisation: For senior leaders and managers
When an organisation becomes a Member or Partner of Business Disability Forum, one of the…
What does an executive disability champion do?
We are often asked what an organisation’s senior or executive disability champion should do. We…
What winning the Senior Disability Champion award meant for Tony Cates, KPMG
In 2018, our award for Senior Disability Champion went to Tony Cates, UK Partner at…
Disability Smart infographics
Some key stats on disability from our Getting Started Toolkit.
Why disability matters: The business or commercial case
How your business can grow and innovate through disability inclusion.
Section 2: Learning and development
Top tips for accessible learning and development
There are a number of steps you can make in your planning that will make…
Hosting accessible learning and development sessions
These checklists and tips are for online, in-person or hybrid learning and development sessions.
Webinar – Accessible and inclusive online events
A conversation about online events and accessibility featuring Events Manager Adam Casey.
Disability Smart webinar – Learning and development
Webinar with L&D Manager Ruth Fisher on inclusive learning and development programmes.
Section 3: Workplace adjustments
The Great Big Workplace Adjustments Survey – Executive summary
Some key findings from our first Great Big Workplace Adjustments Survey.
Writing a reasonable adjustment policy
Some basic principles to think about as you write or review your adjustments policy.
What is ‘reasonable’?
The Equality Act requires employers to make adjustments that are ‘reasonable’ – but what does…
Tailored Adjustments Plans, Passports and Agreements for Businesses
Download our template form and read our guidance on how to use it.
Emergency evacuation plans – PEEPs and GEEPs
PEEPs and GEEPs are plans for evacuating disabled people from buildings and other premises in the…
‘Disability Leave’ – Time off for treatments or appointments
If an employee needs regular treatment or time off to attend appointments, there are ways…
Capturing data about workplace adjustments
This data can be used to identify areas where the workplace adjustments process is failing to…
Workplace adjustments webinar with Microlink
BDF Head of Policy Angela Matthews talks to Microlink CEO Nasser Siabi about workplace adjustments.
Staff consultation methods
Employers need to understand the demographics and experiences of their workforce to enable them to…
Disability Smart webinar – Adjustments
A 45 minute webinar hosted in November 2021 about workplace adjustments.
Types of adjustments and adjustment processes
Managers must know how to identify and implement the right adjustments.
Section 4: Recruitment
Attracting disabled candidates – Top tips
12 practical tips to help your organisation attract disabled candidates.
Designing job roles and writing job descriptions
Considering disability when designing a role can improve diversity and inclusion.
FAQs – Positive and proactive recruitment
Can employers treat disabled candidates more favourably? The law says, yes (usually).
Asking for information about disability during recruitment
In many countries – including the UK – it is unlawful to ask some questions…
Charter for disability-smart recruitment providers
This charter is a tool to help organisations demonstrate their commitment to inclusive recruitment and selection.
Procuring disability-smart recruitment services
Guidance on procuring recruitment services, and a downloadable checklist.
Disability Smart Webinar – Recruitment
Watch BDF experts talk about how to make recruitment processes disability smart.
Section 5: Retention
Supporting career development
How to support disabled employees to achieve their career goals.
Creating employee networks and support groups
Webinar addressing key questions and pointers to consider when developing an employee network or resources…
Talking to employees about poor performance
If you have concerns about an employee’s conduct or performance, you should deal with this as…
How to manage and record sickness absence
As a people manager you should be monitoring unplanned, unpredictable short-term absences any member of…
Managing someone on long-term sick leave
If a member of your team is off sick for a long period, staying in…
When someone tells you they have a disability
Someone telling you they have a disability can be a sensitive conversation, so it’s important…
Employee wellbeing and resilience
What managers can do to to create a team culture that promotes wellbeing and resilience.
Disability Smart Webinar – Retention
Watch our webinar on Disability-Smart recruitment, hosted in January 2022.
Section 6: Customers and service users
Welcoming disabled customers – Getting started
Providing an inclusive and welcoming service for disabled customers and clients is a must for…
Welcoming disabled visitors checklist
Download a checklist to ensure disabled visitors can access and use your premises.
Barclays – POUR: The guiding principles of accessibility
To be accessible, something must be perceivable, operable, understandable and robust.
Customer consultation methods
How to gather and interpret feedback from your customers.
Barclays – Inclusive design principles
Barclays has created seven principles of inclusive design. Download their PDF guidance.
Section 7: Procurement
Request for Proposal
A Request for Proposal (RFP) document outlines preliminary requirements for commodities or services.
General principles of disability-smart procurement
This guidance gives general principles for how you can ensure your suppliers and partners deliver…
Suppliers and partners: Writing questions and considering suppliers’ responses
How to write questions for suppliers, including some good practice examples.
Procuring accessible technology
Your clients, and customers will experience interfaces that are not just accessible, but also easy…
Procuring disability-smart recruitment services
Guidance on procuring recruitment services, and a downloadable checklist.
Inclusive technology procurement – Where to start
This user guide helps you develop a procurement policy to ensure you buy only accessible…
Section 8: Communication
Staff consultation methods
Employers need to understand the demographics and experiences of their workforce to enable them to…
Top tips for managing accessible virtual meetings
This resource gives a few tips to ensure that everyone can be truly present and participate…
A user’s guide to accessible video conferencing apps
How accessible or usable any app is depends on the person using it, their disability,…
Customer consultation methods
How to gather and interpret feedback from your customers.
Disability Smart Webinar: Communications
This webinar was hosted by Business Disability Forum CEO Diane Lightfoot, with Sarah Bartlett, author…
How to use design features to create accessible communications
Guidance on using design features in an inclusive way, and a checklist of what to…
Alternative formats: What they are and why they are important
An overview of the alternative formats that disabled people might find more accessible.
How to write accessible emails
Practical tips on what to consider when creating emails to ensure they are accessible.
Section 9: Built environment
Emergency evacuation plans – PEEPs and GEEPs
PEEPs and GEEPs are plans for evacuating disabled people from buildings and other premises in the…
Welcoming disabled visitors checklist
Download a checklist to ensure disabled visitors can access and use your premises.
Providing services to disabled customers in their home
When delivering services to customers in their home, it is important to keep in mind…
Accessible and inclusive premises
Buildings and facilities that are accessible to disabled people are often welcomed by many others.
Premises accessibility checklist
Download a checklist you can use to check the accessibility of your premises, broken down…
Accessibility management – Who needs to be involved?
A list of key individuals and teams to involve in managing the accessibility of your…
Section 10: Technology
Accessibility Maturity Model
Download our self-assessment tool to check your organisation’s progress on digital accessibility. This page also…
Disability Smart webinar – Technology
This video explores the role of technology within our Disability Smart Framework, including how businesses…
Barclays – POUR: The guiding principles of accessibility
To be accessible, something must be perceivable, operable, understandable and robust.
Supporting staff with assistive technology
Assistive Technology can refer to any kind of device, software or system that helps people…
Procuring accessible technology
Your clients, and customers will experience interfaces that are not just accessible, but also easy…
The future of Assistive Technology in education and employment
We responded to a call for evidence from the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on…
Staff consultation methods
Employers need to understand the demographics and experiences of their workforce to enable them to…
Customer consultation methods
How to gather and interpret feedback from your customers.
Overview of IT accessibility standards
This resource outlines the major IT accessibility standards so that you can decide which are…
Barclays – Inclusive design principles
Barclays has created seven principles of inclusive design. Download their PDF guidance.
If you require this content in a different format, contact enquiries@businessdisabilityforum.org.uk.
© This resource and the information contained therein are subject to copyright and remain the property of the Business Disability Forum. They are for reference only and must not be copied or distributed without prior permission.
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