Disability Inclusion in SEO - WTSFest London 2025

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo 1996 2025 13 14 21 24

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo reality check: everyone is one illness or injury away from being disabled

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo so making the world accessible is in everyone's best interest

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo source: DWP

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo 1 in 10 people assigned female at birth have endometriosis

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo the average diagnosis of endometriosis takes almost 9 years

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo we live in a world with medical inequality

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo the average diagnosis time of endometriosis in Black people is 2.5 years longer than for white people

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo Black people are 50% less likely to get a formal endometriosis diagnosis Source: Olga et al., 2019

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo that's 11.5 years of pain for a diagnosis that may not even happen

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo medical model vs social model

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo medical model it's the person's responsibility to ﬁnd access

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo social model it's the world's responsibility to provide access

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo ❌ medical model ❌ ✅ social model ✅

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo the world is the problem, not you

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo GOBBY DISABLED PERSON

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ 󰺗 󰺗

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo of the respondents: female male non-binary 74% 18% 5% agency in-house freelance 53% 33% 14% disabled not disabled 70% 30%

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo ● visible/physical disabilities ● invisible/chronic illnesses ● D/deaf or hard of hearing ● terminal illness ● blind or partially sighted ● developmental disability identity

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo

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#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"

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo 48% of people said they feel comfortable approaching employers about disability

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#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."

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo employee-led changes are great, but it's not what we're paid to do

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo 16% of respondents are not comfortable discussing disability with their employer

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo "I've never had a good experience revealing my disability. I feel I can't trust anyone who has power over me."

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo so what can employers do?

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo SEO can be done from anywhere, so embrace ﬂexible working

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo ensure teams are using accessible fonts and numbers

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo accessiblenumbers.com

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo stop using the Bradford Factor universally for sickness policies

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo it is ableist and needlessly penalises disabled employees

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo if team members must be in the oﬃce, remember to cover the basics

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo workplace access ● step-free access ● accessible loos ● occupational health assessments ● contained meeting rooms ● masking if requested ● captions in training videos

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo keep these in mind for any events you plan, too

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo as well as any sensory needs employees may have

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo don't enforce a camera-on policy for remote workers (some of us WFB*) * working from bed

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo showcase the good work you're doing on your website

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo but don't be tokenistic

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo for employees

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo you aren't legally required to disclose a disability, though in some cases it can be beneﬁcial

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo e.g. if a role requires on-site visits and you have physical access requirements

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo if you're planning to discuss disability, preparation is key

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo it means you avoid getting ﬂustered and can get your point across easily

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#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

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo avoid phrasing your disability as the problem

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo focus on what they can do to support you

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo for event organisers

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo

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#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."

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo don't make people ask for access, give it to them willingly

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo take inspiration from the amazing events like WTSFest and BrightonSEO 󰺗 󰺗

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo like workplaces, step-free access and accessible loos are a must

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo sensory rooms for people to decompress can make events less overwhelming for neurodiverse folks

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo encourage your speakers to be themselves on stage

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo 󰺗 ❤ 🔥

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo the best thing you can do is ask

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo talk to the disabled people around you, survey ex-attendees, post a funny instagram poll…

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo i promise you, your event will be better for it

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo even if you start with the smallest changes

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo for nondisabled allies

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo listen to the people around you

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo advocate for others (on their terms!)

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo follow disabled folks online for a diverse newsfeed

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo @thechroniciconic disability & stomas @sophjbutler honest disability content @hipster.sunshine D/deaf & BSL content @disabled_eliza wheelchair access in London

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo we all make mistakes (disabled people included!)

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo the important thing is that you try

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo remember: the world is the problem, not you 󰺗

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#WTSFest @chloeivyroseseo thank you! special thanks to: Alice Rowan, Alex Day @chloeivyrose /in/chloeivyrose @chloeivyroseseo