Disability Smart Impact Awards 2026 – Celebrating the people who are making a real difference
By Sarah Bartlett, Head of Media Relations and Communications at Business Disability Forum.
Emotional, joyful and proud. Three words, which sum up well the feelings of those in the room at this year’s Disability Smart Impact Awards ceremony, which took place on Wednesday (29 April) at HSBC’s Global Headquarters in Canary Wharf
Having been involved in a number of award ceremonies over the years, it can be easy to see them as just part of BDF’s ‘business as usual’ and what we do as an organisation. But the stories that come out of the award ceremony each year, including this year’s, are far from just ordinary.
The awards were an opportunity to hear about the amazing work being carried out by 41 individuals, teams and businesses small and large, from the UK and across the globe, to improve opportunities for disabled people in the workplace and the customer space. The projects ranged in size and budget, but all had several things in common.
Firstly, a personal commitment from the finalists and winners to make things better and to not accept barriers. As Chris Lynch from Diverse Made Media, the winner of the Disability Smart Impact Award for Technology (small organisation), commented, “the barriers that we live with everyday often show us what needs to change.” Chris has used the barriers he experienced to create the world’s first wheelchair camera system so disabled creatives can independently operate the camera as filmmakers and broadcasters. Sensory Shine, the winners of the Product Design Award, told a similar story of creating accessible oral care products that have been developed from their own personal experiences of tackling everyday barriers around teeth brushing.
Secondly, an understanding that accessibility and inclusion don’t just improve things for disabled people, they make things better for everyone, everywhere. “When everyone can contribute, everyone wins, including our audiences,” was a powerful statement from the BBC’s Robbie Crow about the impact that inclusive workplaces have beyond the workspace in response to winning this year’s Inclusive Recruitment Award. And Marc Powell from Unilever added that “accessibility is a massive lever for growth” when he collected the Global Disability Inclusion Award. Marc’s smart glasses accidentally speaking to him during his acceptance speech to deliver a message from his Mum, just helped to emphasise the ‘everyone, everywhere’ message.
Thirdly, recognition that to achieve change we need to keep working and then work some more. We heard from Iain Wilkie about a long career, which has taken him from EY to become the Founder and Chair of 50 Million Voices, a global organisation which is transforming the workplace for people who stammer. Iain spoke about those early days of working with a stammer by saying “I felt so ashamed of my stammering and now I’ve won an award for it.” And from Lifetime Achievement Award winner, Lyn Lee, about the importance of staying on the journey: “Do not give up when times get tough…We don’t always have the answers but that doesn’t stop us from greatness.”
Finally, I could not write this blog without commenting on the smiles in the room. Happy Smiles C.I.C, winners of the Workplace Experience Award (small organisation) must be the most aptly named organisation ever. I have never met 3 people who smile more and clearly love the work they do. But winners and finalists, alike, were just so happy to be there, not only to receive their own award or certificate, but simply to celebrate and acknowledge the work being carried out by everyone around them.
We are living in challenging times, when talk around disability inclusion is not always positive. The awards were a great opportunity to remember why we all do what we do, why it continues to be important, and to celebrate the people who are making a real difference.
If you couldn’t make this year’s awards, you haven’t missed out. You can still read all the stories of this year’s winners.