Professor
Debbie Foster
Professor of Employment Relations and Diversity at Cardiff Business School, Cardiff University
Education
I aquired an impairment in 2000 and my lived experiences as a disabled person motivated me to change direction in my academic research to investigate disabled people in the labour market and employment. Since then I have completed research and published articles on the experience of negotiating workplace adjustments and conducted EU funded action research with social partners and disabled people in Estonia, Hungary and Poland, looking at why work accomodations should be regarded as a key industrial relations process.
More recently, with a grant awarded by Disability Wales (through the DRILL programme funded by the Lottery), I led a project that was partnered by the Disabled Solicitors Network of the Law Society of England and Wales. This co-produced research findings about the career experiences of disabled people working as legal professionals. Findings have influenced the diversity and inclusion strategies of the Law Society and legal regulators, but most importantly has empowered disabled people in the legal profession to use the evidence base from the research to argue for change.
During the pandemic I was also asked by DPOs in Wales to help them co-produce a report about the impact of Covid 19 on disabled people for Welsh Government. This was called ‘Locked out: liberating disabled people’s lives beyond Covid-19’. It’s recommendations went on to inspire the First Minister Mark Drakeford, to set up a Disability Rights Taskforce.
I was nominated by DPOs to co-chair this Taskforce with Jane Hutt, Minister for Social Justice and am currently involved helping to steer its work, which is led by disabled people. The outcome will be a new 10 year Disability Rights Action Plan for Wales, which will be coproduced by disabled people and Welsh Government. This is a groundbreaking and unique initiative that I am proud to be part of.
I was honoured to be included in The Future Generations Commissioner for Wales list of 100 Changemakers in January 2023 for my work with Welsh Government and DPOs in Wales.
“Nothing about us without us is the philosophy of the disability rights movement. I have been honoured to have participated and helped facilitate a number of groundbreaking projects that have been co-produced with disabled people and their organisations for the benefit of disabled people in wider society, drawing on my own lived experiences.”
Disability Power 100 2023 profile information has been self-submitted by the profile subject. Shaw Trust understands and respects that disability and impairment descriptors and language use varies from person to person. Shaw Trust assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or discrepancies in the content of this, or any other, profile page.
Image credit: Natasha Hirst Photography
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