Published: 03 May 2018
Eight new members have been appointed to our Disability Advisory Committee (DAC). DAC members bring expertise and knowledge of disability issues, including through lived experience, to inform our work to protect and promote rights and equality for disabled people.
The eight new members are:
- Liz Sayce: former CEO of Disability Rights UK
- Nicholas Watson: Professor of Disability Research in the School of Social and Political Sciences and Director at the Centre for Disability Research at the University of Glasgow
- Simone Aspis: Policy and Campaigns Coordinator at Alliance for Inclusive Education
- Fazilet Hadi: former Director at the RNIB
- Sarah Coleman: Policy Officer for Mencap
- Maddy Kirkman: Research and Development with get2gether
- Miro Griffiths: Adviser at the Department for Work and Pensions and Department of Health
- Colin Low: Baron Low of Dalston, CBE, Vice-President of the RNIB and former Chairman
From influencing government policy, to working to protect disabled people’s right to independent living and playing an active role with organisations of and for disabled people, the new committee members have a proven track record of driving change and making a positive impact at the highest level. Read full biographies for all of the new committee members.
The new members’ unique knowledge and broad range of experience in advancing disabled people’s rights through engagement, research and policy, will complement the skills of the existing DAC members and help inform our decision-making across all of our work.
David Isaac, Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, said:
“I am delighted to welcome our new Disability Advisory Committee members. Improving the lives of disabled people is at the heart of everything we do and creating a strong DAC with such a wealth of expertise and personal experience across such a broad range of fields is essential to our work. Only by this means will the Commission’s work be well-informed, relevant and effective in advancing the rights of all disabled people in this country.”
The appointments follow an open application and interview process carried out between November 2017 and March 2018. Applications were received from as diverse range of applicants as possible and people with lived experience of disability were encouraged to apply. In appointing members of the DAC, it was decided that at least two-thirds of the members should be, or have been, disabled people to ensure our work is informed by a wide range of views.