Ep 58. James Watson-O'Neill, CEO Sense: Shifting power to disabled people

In this episode, I am joined by James Watson-O’Neill, CEO of Sense, for a conversation about what it really means to create a world where disabled people are connected and included.Sense supports disabled people with complex needs to communicate, experience the world and fulfil their potential. The £100m+ charity currently supports over 30k disabled people and families in the UK.The charity has recently launched its new strategy, Transforming Sense, together — a three-year plan shaped by the voices of over 3,000 people connected to Sense.At the heart of that strategy is a commitment to breaking down barriers and shifting power to disabled people. It connects directly to the social model of disability: the idea that it is society, services and institutions that must change so that disabled people experience greater connection, choice and control over their own lives.We are speaking at a moment when disability rights and broader protections in the UK feel deeply contested.Too often, disabled people are treated as if the problem sits with them — rather than with the systems, environments and attitudes that exclude them.In this episode, we explore Sense’s new strategy, the realities facing disabled people, what it means to be genuinely inclusive and the extent of polarisation across society today. James also challenges us to think about what our collective responsibility as civil society leaders is at this moment - and how we rise to meet it.Recorded June 2026.