My good friend Sean Fitzsimmons, who sits on the panel of the British Council’s Global Disability Advisory Panel with me, let me know that he was leading the Harkin Summit on Disability Inclusion in Belfast in 2022. He kindly asked if I would chair a panel of women allies and women with disabilities together, working in different sectors and countries, to share their thoughts on intersection, mainstreaming and what more needs to be done to include people with disabilities in global employment and participation opportunities. I was very flattered but also excited to join a summit led and run by people with disabilities. It was one of the most inclusive summits I have ever attended with simultaneous sign language interpretation in multiple languages including ASL and ISL. There were close captioning large screens to the side, people acting as support staff if needed to direct and guide attendees and physical access such as lifts, ramps and other reasonable accommodation options. It is such a stress-free way to join a summit, when you know you can truly be yourself and request exactly what you need to feel comfortable and included. I have been to many international summits and struggled with barriers preventing my equal access as a disabled woman, but for this summit I felt comfortable and accepted. I also met some wonderful disabled leaders championing the way globally and breaking so many ceilings to ensure equal access and participation for all. As a disability inclusion adviser, I need to constantly learn, grow and to understand the movement and the lived-experience of others, connecting with people who, like myself, are working in similar sectors and spaces. As a wise person once said, there is room and space for all of our voices, we just need to work together to improve disability inclusion globally. I was star struck to meet Charlotte from the World Bank and activists Abia Akram from Pakistan and the legend Judy Heumann from the USA amongst many others who I am happy to call my friends and co-collaborators. A wonderful moment to reconnect, reflect and plan ways to work together and collaborate in the future. Thank you to Sean and all the Harkin team and to the many wonderful people I met and reconnected with after a long time; Abia, Dermot, Michaela, Zara, Shani, Charlotte, Judy and so many more, thank you for all you do.
Susie on stage with guests at the Harkin Summit in Belfast
Zara, Abia, Susie, Judy and Charlotte pose for a photo at the Harkin Summit
