BDEF (Bristol Disability Equality Forum)

Who we are

We are a Disabled people led organisation where all decisions are made by Disabled people. We create the space and support for Disabled people in Bristol to speak for themselves, to each other, and to those in power.

Our three pillars of work are Voice and Influence, Peer Support and Community Development. We also do work on Co-Design and Co-Production, working from a Disability Equality perspective.

Our culture and values

• We use the Social Model of Disability, which means that it is environmental, organisational, and attitudinal barriers that disable people and prevent our full participation in society, not our medical conditions or impairments.
• Within this definition of Disabled people, we include anyone who faces barriers in society due to an impairment or medical condition. This includes d/Deaf and Hard of Hearing people, people with a visual impairment, people with a physical impairment, people with learning difficulties or are neurodivergent, those who are chronically ill, and those who have experienced mental health conditions, along with those who may not consider themselves a Disabled person but who have a health condition/impairment and experience the same structural inequity and barriers as those who do identify as Disabled people.
• Our approach is rooted in the lived experiences and expertise of Disabled people, ensuring that their voices are central to decision making and development of solutions.
• Our vision is for a society where Disabled people are respected and valued, where they have Independence, Choice and Control of their own lives, and where they are fully included in their communities and the country as a whole. BDEF envisions a future where Disabled people in Bristol are not only more included, but are active leaders in shaping the city’s policies, services, and cultural landscape.