When was the last time you genuinely asked someone with a disability what they needed to succeed? In this eye-opening conversation, Sarah Petherbridge shares her journey as a profoundly deaf professional navigating workplace challenges with growing emotional resilience.
Sarah's story highlights the powerful shift from the outdated "medical model" of disability—where individuals were expected to "fix themselves"—to the empowering "social model" that recognises external barriers as the true disablers. "We're not disabled by our disability," Sarah explains, "but by the barriers in the workplace that are disabling us." This perspective transforms how disabled employees advocate for themselves and how colleagues can become meaningful allies.
The heart of this episode explores what true allyship looks like. Sarah defines an ally beautifully as "someone who has your back"—a person who intentionally includes rather than unintentionally excludes. She emphasizes that being an ally doesn't require perfection, just willingness: "You don't need to be perfect from the start, but you can make a start and just ask the right questions." Simple questions like "How can I help you?" demonstrate genuine care and open pathways to meaningful support.
We discuss how emotional resilience helps disabled professionals set healthy boundaries, advocate for accommodations, and overcome the "low-level anxiety" of navigating a world not designed for them. Sarah reflects how developing self-compassion transformed her relationship with past workplace challenges: "It's about not blaming myself for what happened... giving myself more compassion and understanding."
For leaders and organizations, Sarah offers practical guidance for creating inclusive environments through personal storytelling, awareness training, and making disability a comfortable rather than taboo topic. The business case is clear—inclusive workplaces enable everyone to contribute their best work.
Whether you have a disability, work alongside disabled colleagues, or simply want to become a more compassionate human, this conversation offers invaluable insights into creating workplaces where everyone can thrive through curiosity, empathy, and emotional resilience.

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