Disability Confident Level 1 – Step-by-step guidance

Disability Confident Level 1 – Step-by-step guidance 

Refer to the Disability Confident scheme website for the latest updates and more information. 

Step-by-step guidance

1. Make sure that you already meet the commitments required.

2. Choose at least one activity you will commit to.

3. Register with Disability Confident on the government’s website.

4. Apply the Disability Confident badge you receive as part of your registration on all your marketing and communications. 

5. Set up a process for documenting your progress and activities as you work to build on the commitments and activities in Level 1. 

6. Aim to complete Level 1 within the 3-year time period. 

7. You can register for Level 2 as soon as you have completed Level 1 and completed the pre-registration requirements.

Top tips

• Secure senior sponsorship before you start. This will make it easier to get the resources you need and buy-in from key internal stakeholders. 

• Plan how you will keep records of your progress. This makes it easier in the longer term and if personnel change. 

• Advertise to your employees the organisation’s commitment to Disability Confident and what it has done as a result. Repeat this regularly to show progress. 

• Have a few quick wins, progress reports and positive news stories that you can help you show the benefits of signing up to the scheme. For example, an interview with someone who has benefitted from it can be persuasive. 

• The transition to Level 2 requires you to complete a self-assessment. You may find it useful to start using it early in Level 1 and updating it as you go along. 

Frequently asked questions

Do we need to demonstrate to an external organisation what we are doing?

Not at this stage. You may need to demonstrate progress to your senior teams, employees, investors, customers and clients, though. 

What is the difference between minimum, desirable and essential requirements?

The terms can be a bit confusing and are often used interchangeably by different organisations.  

It may be easiest to consider ‘minimum’ and ‘essential’ as the key components – the ‘must haves’, and ‘desirable’ as the ‘would like to have.’ 

Our resource on ‘Essential and desirable criteria’ has more guidance. 

How advanced does the organisation have to be to meet the criteria for Level 1?

Start simple and build on what you have in place. It is hoped that you will be using the scheme to continually improve your disability inclusion status – so progress is the key. 

Level 1 is less demanding than Levels 2 and 3. Completing the required activities for Level 1 should put your organisation in a good position to start preparing for Level 2 – and make the organisation more inclusive. 

Do organisations that complete Level 1 have to move on to Level 2?

Organisations can remain at Level 1 for three years. You will have to register again for Level 1 after three years if you do not progress to Level 2 within that time. You will have to ensure that you still meet the criteria.

If you do not re-register or progress to Level 2, you will lose your Level 1 status after three years.