Disability Smart Diversity & Inclusion Professional Award

Case study

The Diversity & Inclusion Professional category showcases and rewards a diversity and inclusion professional who has overseen real and tangible improvements for disabled people in their workforce and potentially beyond.

The judging panel chose Sat Jabanda-Wilson, Accessibility & Inclusive Design Lead at Virgin Media O2, for her work bringing about systematic change to break down barriers to inclusion within her organisation. Sat worked to create an Accessibility & Inclusive Design Framework which is now used consistently by product teams. She also ensured the integration of accessibility features as standard.

Sat has tirelessly and enthusiastically championed Disability Inclusion since 2017 at Virgin Media O2, and challenged senior leaders, middle managers, and frontline teams across the organisation to remove barriers for disabled and vulnerable consumers.

Sat created a bespoke Accessibility & Inclusive Design framework. Sat enabled the organisation to adopt a set of principles that would deliver accessibility & inclusive design (A&I Design) alongside subject matter expertise across every customer touchpoint, whether it be a physical product, a customer journey, a proposition, a process, etc.

Highlights of Sat’s achievements include:

• Embedding the Accessibility & Inclusive Design framework to create a robust Governance model.
• Co-creating a Brand Inclusive Language glossary.
• Removing non-inclusive language from customer-facing knowledge tools and embedded governance into an automated solution to prevent such language being used in the future.
• Including A&I Design principles into their Service Design and Customer Experience frameworks.
• Co-designing A&I Design training for all 80 Product owners.
• Creating ‘Dos & Don’ts’ checklists and other guidance documents equipping teams to become allies of A&I Design.

Winner’s quote

“Thank you Business Disability Forum for your support & insight throughout my journey. Having access to your resources and being connected to members is such a key part of my purpose. A special shout out to Alan Collins, Adrian Ward, Lucy Ruck, Karan Snuggs for your continued support.”

Judges’ comments

“We were impressed with the way Sat works collaboratively and passionately across the organisation from product teams to Employee Resource Groups and senior leaders. This makes it possible for her to get the understanding and buy-in required to make the changes she has identified. We feel that Sat truly demonstrates the commitment and collaboration needed in a truly effective diversity and inclusion professional.”

Finalists in this category

• Lydia Stott, Cooper Parry (Highly commended),
• Ruel Ramirez, Shell,
• Wael S. Alomari, Saudi Aramco,
• Sat Jabanda-Wilson, Virgin Media O2.

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