EHRC - Disability Committee

Equality and Human Rights Commission

Our job is to promote equality and human rights, and to create a fairer Britain. We do this by providing advice and guidance, working to implement an effective legislative framework and raising awareness of your rights.

Disability Committee

This page introduces the Commission's Disability Committee, explains its purpose, lists who is on the Committee, and provides some background information about the individuals involved.

You can contact the Disability Committee by email

About the Committee

The Commission is required by law to have a Disability Committee.  This was considered necessary by the Government because of the highly distinctive nature of disability equality law, in particular the duties to make reasonable adjustments, and the complex technical and ethical issues associated with promoting disability equality.

The Disability Committee has decision making powers in relation to those matters which solely concern disability, and the Commission must seek the advice of the Committee on all matters which relate to disability in a significant way. The Committee is supported by the Disability Programme Director who works across the Commission to ensure the Committee's objectives are met.

Mike Smith to chair Disability Committee

On 14 January 2010 the Commission appointed Michael Smith, known as Mike, as the new chair of its Disability Committee. Mike replaces acting chair Alun Davies who stepped down at the end of 2009.

This appointment follows Mike’s engagement as a Commissioner on 3 December 2009. As well as chairing the Disability Committee, Mike is also lead champion for disability matters on the Commission's board.

Members of the Disability Committee

Mike Smith

Mike is Chair of the National Centre for Independent Living (2005 to date). The Centre is a national umbrella organisation that works with government and other stakeholders to help realise independent living for all disabled people. He is also a member of the board of Stonewall (2006 to date), the lesbian, gay and bisexual charity. Prior to this he worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers for 19 years, qualifying as a chartered accountant and specialising in company tax advice. After working in risk management his most recent role was Director of Policy, Compliance.

Saghir Alam

Saghir Alam, a lawyer and a DRC Commissioner leading on partnership and capacity building. He has been working with central and local government on equality and diversity issues including as a member of Equality 2025.  He is also a member of the Race and Diversity Panel of CENTREX, the National Police Training Authority.

Diane Mulligan

Diane has worked on disability, diversity and international development issues since 1992.  Her experience includes working with the Institute of Development Studies; as Country Director of VSO Indonesia and currently with Sightsavers International on social inclusion. At a grassroots level, Diane established the Sussex Amputee Support Group and a support group for parents of disabled children in Indonesia.

Diane’s other appointments in public life have included working with the following: the Office for Disability Issues (establishing Equality 2025), the British Medical Association (Patient Liaison Group and Equal Opportunities Committee), the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence and Sussex Probation Board.

Andrew Lee

Andrew Lee, Director of People First (Self Advocacy), a campaigning organisation run by people with learning difficulties. It has national membership and has influenced Government on a number of key issues. 

Liz Sayce

Liz Sayce is Chief Executive of RADAR, the leading pan-disability organisation. Before that she was Director, Policy and Communications, for the Disability Rights Commission, where she led on creating a new Disability Agenda for policy for the next 2 decades, as well as a Formal Investigation into physical health inequalities experienced by people with mental health problems and/or learning disabilities. Previously she was Director of Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham Health Action Zone.  She spent 8 years as Policy Director of Mind, and one year as a Harkness Fellow in the USA, studying the impact of the Americans with Disabilities Act and related policy initiatives. She was a member of the UK Government’s Disability Rights Task Force (1997-99).

With knowledge and experience of mental health issues, she has published widely on mental health and disability issues including From Psychiatric Patient to Citizen (Macmillan-Palgrave 2000). She is also a Trustee of Stonewall.