Disability-smart Awards

The Disability-smart Awards are given to companies that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to employing, working with and doing business with disabled people. 

Disability-smart Award winners exhibit leading practice within the ten criteria of the world-leading Disability Standard. The Disability Standard represents best practice, but also provides information about specific areas to support business in their journey to becoming disability-smart and improve performance for disabled customers, employees and stakeholders. 

The judging panel for the awards includes leading experts in the area of disability, representatives from BDF's Member and Partner organisations and disabled opinion leaders.

The awards categories are: 

• Senior disability champion of the year

Awarded to the individual at C-suite or board the business (or equivalent) who has most effectively used their position to visibly influence disability performance across the business.

• Inclusive service provider of the year

Awarded to the organisation that has most significantly improved the inclusivity of their products and services to disabled customers and those associated with them.

• Positive cultural change of the year

Awarded to the organisation that has demonstrated the greatest positive change in attitudes towards disability, disabled colleagues, customers and stakeholders within their business.

• Workplace adjustments innovation of the year

Awarded to the organisation that has displayed the greatest innovation in the timely and effective provision of workplace adjustments and the best experience for employees. 

• Influential business of the year

Awarded to the organisation that has been most influential in spreading best practice to the wider business community and public policy. 

• Technology initiative of the year

Awarded to the organisation that has most effectively deployed new technologies to remove barriers for disabled colleagues, customers and stakeholders.

• 'Nothing about us without us' award

Awarded to the organisation that has most effectively involved disabled colleagues, customers and stakeholders in new projects, policies and products.