Chair of Edinburgh Accessibility Commission appointed to lead UK Government panel

The chair of Edinburgh Accessibility Commission, Zara Todd, has been appointed to lead the UK Government panel shaping government’s health and disability policy.

Ms Todd, who according to papers on the council website chaired two meetings of the commission in 2024 has been named as Chair of th new Independent Disability Advisory Panel. This group will have a “broad remit across health and disability policy”, and will comprise up to 10 people who are deaf and disabled, or who have long-term health conditions. The government intends to listen, learn from and collaborate with the panel.

Zara Todd is an equality and inclusion consultant with more than 20 years experience. She will recruit members of the panel and will be responsible for reporting back to Westminster.

Minister for Social Security and Disability Sir Stephen Timms said: “It is absolutely vital that the voices of Deaf and disabled people and those with long-term health conditions are at the centre of our health and disability policy design, so I am pleased to announce Zara Todd as the Chair of new Independent Disability Advisory Panel.

“Zara’s extensive and wide-ranging experience, including designing and facilitating disability inclusive spaces, will be invaluable in guiding the collaboration we hope to build.

“I look forward to listening to, learning from and collaborating with the Panel over the coming months.”

Zara Todd, Chair of the Disability Advisory Panel said: “I’m delighted to chair the new Independent Disability Advisory Panel and help ensure Deaf and disabled people and people with long-term health conditions are heard in Government policy-making.

“The Panel will aim to strengthen relationships between the Government and sector, and I look forward to working with other disabled people to connect lived experience with policy development. She has a long history of working with disabled people’s organisations including the Alliance for Inclusive Education, the European Network on Independent Living, and Equal Lives. Zara is currently on the board of Disabled Peoples’ International and was previously the chair of Inclusion London. She is an experienced trainer and facilitator and delivers training in disability equality and human rights.

“I hope that working collaboratively, we can build stronger links and build an approach that works for all.”

Westminster

Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.

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