Disability Inclusion in SEO - WTSFest London 2025

Presented at WTSFest London 2025 at the Barbican Centre. Register for a recording ticket here: https://www.womenintechseo.com/conference/london/

Drawing on their own lived experience as well as others' via a survey conducted in 2024, Chloe discusses the importance of disability inclusion in SEO and wider marketing workplaces. This deck outlines key issues faced by disabled employees, and provides actionable insights into how employers can make workplaces more accessible, how employees can ask for support without framing their disability as the problem, how event organisers can think ahead and provide access willingly instead of making attendees ask for it, and how nondisabled allies can support the people around them.

Transcript

1. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo
2. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo 1996 2025 13 14 21 24
3. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo reality check: everyone is one illness or injury away from being disabled
4. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo so making the world accessible is in everyone's best interest
5. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo source: DWP
6. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo 1 in 10 people assigned female at birth have endometriosis
7. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo the average diagnosis of endometriosis takes almost 9 years
8. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo we live in a world with medical inequality
9. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo the average diagnosis time of endometriosis in Black people is 2.5 years longer than for white people
10. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo Black people are 50% less likely to get a formal endometriosis diagnosis Source: Olga et al., 2019
11. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo that's 11.5 years of pain for a diagnosis that may not even happen
12. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo
13. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo medical model vs social model
14. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo medical model it's the person's responsibility to find access
15. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo social model it's the world's responsibility to provide access
16. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo ❌ medical model ❌ ✅ social model ✅
17. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo the world is the problem, not you
18. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo GOBBY DISABLED PERSON
19. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ 󰺗 󰺗
20. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo
21. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo of the respondents: female male non-binary 74% 18% 5% agency in-house freelance 53% 33% 14% disabled not disabled 70% 30%
22. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo • visible/physical disabilities • invisible/chronic illnesses • D/deaf or hard of hearing • terminal illness • blind or partially sighted • developmental disability identity
23. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo
24. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo i asked "what are the biggest barriers to work for you?" "too much pressure to be on all the time" "Expectations to consistently work in an office" "Flexibility and affordability of the lifestyle I need" "Working in a heavily numbers based system with dyscalculia" "Schedule flexibility for regularly and spontaneous appointments" "Risk of burnout, lack of accommodations, stigma"
25. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo 48% of people said they feel comfortable approaching employers about disability
26. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo "I do feel comfortable doing but that's just because I have fought tooth and nail to get my employer to respect my rights as a disabled person. If I hadn't done this I would still be obliged to work in the office and be even more penalised by managers who don't understand my disabilities."
27. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo
28. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo
29. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo employee-led changes are great, but it's not what we're paid to do
30. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo 16% of respondents are not comfortable discussing disability with their employer
31. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo "I've never had a good experience revealing my disability. I feel I can't trust anyone who has power over me."
32. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo so what can employers do?
33. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo SEO can be done from anywhere, so embrace flexible working
34. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo ensure teams are using accessible fonts and numbers
35. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo accessiblenumbers.com
36. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo stop using the Bradford Factor universally for sickness policies
37. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo
38. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo it is ableist and needlessly penalises disabled employees
39. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo if team members must be in the office, remember to cover the basics
40. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo workplace access • step-free access • accessible loos • occupational health assessments • contained meeting rooms • masking if requested • captions in training videos
41. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo keep these in mind for any events you plan, too
42. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo as well as any sensory needs employees may have
43. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo don't enforce a camera-on policy for remote workers (some of us WFB*) * working from bed
44. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo showcase the good work you're doing on your website
45. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo
46. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo but don't be tokenistic
47. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo for employees
48. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo you aren't legally required to disclose a disability, though in some cases it can be beneficial
49. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo e.g. if a role requires on-site visits and you have physical access requirements
50. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo if you're planning to discuss disability, preparation is key
51. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo it means you avoid getting flustered and can get your point across easily
52. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo explain • as much or as little detail as you want • discuss the way it impacts you ask • reasonable adjustments • discuss what you need from them
53. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo avoid phrasing your disability as the problem
54. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo focus on what they can do to support you
55. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo
56. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo
57. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo for event organisers
58. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo
59. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo "Because I only have invisible/chronic disabilities, I often fear that I'm somehow taking up resources/space that 'should' be used by someone more obviously disabled - a wheelchair user or someone deaf or blind."
60. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo don't make people ask for access, give it to them willingly
61. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo take inspiration from the amazing events like WTSFest and BrightonSEO 󰺗 󰺗
62. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo like workplaces, step-free access and accessible loos are a must
63. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo sensory rooms for people to decompress can make events less overwhelming for neurodiverse folks
64. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo encourage your speakers to be themselves on stage
65. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo 󰺗 ❤ 🔥
66. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo the best thing you can do is ask
67. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo talk to the disabled people around you, survey ex-attendees, post a funny instagram poll…
68. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo i promise you, your event will be better for it
69. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo even if you start with the smallest changes
70. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo for nondisabled allies
71. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo listen to the people around you
72. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo advocate for others (on their terms!)
73. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo follow disabled folks online for a diverse newsfeed
74. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo @thechroniciconic disability & stomas @sophjbutler honest disability content @hipster.sunshine D/deaf & BSL content @disabled_eliza wheelchair access in London
75. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo we all make mistakes (disabled people included!)
76. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo the important thing is that you try
77. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo remember: the world is the problem, not you 󰺗
78. #WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo thank you! special thanks to: Alice Rowan, Alex Day @chloeivyrose /in/chloeivyrose @chloeivyroseseo