The DisAbility Advantage: Learning to do business better from lived experience

In this episode of The Disability Advantage, Lesa Bradshaw gets real about a topic most organisations overlook — the psychological safety of managers. We talk a lot about creating safe spaces for employees with disabilities, but what happens when the very people expected to lead those conversations don’t feel safe themselves? Lesa breaks down the five confidence gaps she sees across industries — from fear of causing offence to uncertainty around invisible disabilities — and explains why these gaps quietly derail inclusion efforts, talent pipelines, and accessibility initiatives. You’ll hear: - Why line managers, not DE&I teams, are the true gatekeepers of disability confidence - How uncertainty (not discrimination) fuels hesitation and missed opportunities - What psychological safety actually looks like for managers - The coaching framework Lesa uses to help leaders ask better questions, remove barriers, and build trust - Four practical actions organisations can take to develop disability‑confident managers This episode is a must‑listen for leaders, HR teams, DE&I professionals, and anyone committed to turning good intentions into everyday inclusive behaviour. If you want to learn more about Lesa’s disability confidence coaching series or leadership support services, visit www.lesabradshaw.com.

This episode tackles the difficult questions about disability inclusion that hiring managers and leaders often think, but rarely say out loud. With her trademark straight talking, humour and lived experience, Lesa brings these conversations into the open, removing fear, awkwardness and assumptions along the way. From language and terminology, to performance stigma, workplace adjustments and interview etiquette, the discussion unpacks what leaders actually need to understand in order to make informed, fair and confident decisions. Through practical examples and real-world scenarios, Lesa challenges the idea that disability is a risk, reframing it instead as an opportunity to design better workplaces, stronger teams and more competitive businesses. Grounded in respect, curiosity and common sense, this episode reinforces a powerful message: you don’t need all the answers to become disability-confident, but you do need the courage to ask better questions and learn from lived experience.

This podcast adopts a slightly more formal tone as it explores the importance of leadership and disability confidence among business stakeholders. It highlights the return on investment that comes from intentional efforts to build a barrier-free, enabling, and inclusive culture for all. By drawing on the lived insights and experiences of employees and customers with disabilities, the episode demonstrates their value and offers practical tips to help leaders and decision-makers understand what I see: that disability confidence is achievable, beneficial for business, and positive for everyone.

This punchy piece is bound to stir some debate, as it focuses on the double standards of self disclosure of a disability vs other forms of diversity. Bringing a cheeky comparison, this podcast highlights some pertinent points to consider when we demand proof of disability from our employees and applicants. Lesa once again brings a quirky spin to the conversation in order to promote a deeper understanding of what we ask of people when we demand proof of disability in order to provide equitable opportunities.

It can be quite disheartening, as a person with a disability, to feel that your right to live your best life so often hinges on the common practices of our mainstream economy and societal practices. And yet, there is legislation out there that has your back! This podcast, delivered with the usual animated personal experiences and stories from Lesa, covers a brief overview of the clusters of legislative regulations which are weaving accessibility for all as a standard practice in our economy.

This metaphorical moment reflects the realities of disclosing a disability to a potential or existing employer. Drawing from lived experience, Lesa Bradshaw shares her journey on the potential setbacks, experiences and barriers that commonly threaten to derail an individual’s career journey. Bringing her unique story telling approach, professional insights and pragmatic advice as a person with a disability, this podcast delivers some useful tips on navigating, and supporting, a disability confident talent pipeline that is good for business, good for people, and good for our economy.

Digital accessibility and artificial intelligence is a hot topic in the economy right now as, like anything technologically new, it can be used for the power of good or the power of evil, it can include and enable people or it can exclude and discriminate against people, it can enhance the customer experience and it can drive customers off the wall with frustration. But how does it impact on the lives of people with a disability as employees, customers and fellow citizens?In this episode, Lesa shares her personal delight in the positive impact of digital accessibility and AI enabled products and services.

This delightfully direct episode hits hard in the way it unpacks the concept of Ableism and how it manifests in our common societal practices and behaviours. Lesa illustrates the power imbalances between people with, and without, a disability using a chuckle-worthy analogy which nevertheless lands the message of attitudinal barrier, and what needs to be done about them, with a powerful punch.

This punchy piece brings to life the realities of inaccessible infrastructure from the ‘down low’ perspective of a business leader who ‘rolls’ rather than ‘ambulates’! Bringing her full sense of humour and stories of her recent business travels, in this episode/podcast Lesa Bradshaw highlights how, with just a bit of fore-thought and recognition of the positive impact of inclusion, accessibility and access to a largely untapped customer and talent pool can be realised as a competitive advantage to both people, and the bottom line in business.

This episode brings a bit of context to the personal stories used by Lesa to create a shift in thinking about disability and it’s place in society. Shared narratives have the capacity to alter people's perceptions of the world, making them a powerful tool to shift the unconscious prejudice that so frequently shapes our actions. Referencing the highly entertaining experiences of her post-divorce dating as a 40 year old woman with a disability, Lesa shares her position on disability confidence as an enabler for all.