There’s a lot of talk about being “inclusive.”
But when it comes to how decisions are made—policies drafted, programs rolled out, services designed—disabled people are still too often an afterthought.
That’s where co-design comes in—and not just as a buzzword. It’s a practice, a commitment, a power shift.
What is Co-Design?
Co-design goes beyond consultation. It’s not about having a few people in the room to comment on a pre-written draft. It’s about designing from the start with, not for.
It means disabled people aren’t just asked for feedback at the end of a process—they’re involved at the beginning, throughout, and until delivery. It means power is shared, decisions are made together, and lived experience is considered expertise.
If you’re still just running surveys or asking for feedback on something that’s already been decided, that’s not co-design. That’s checkbox inclusion.
Why It Matters for Disability Inclusion
Here’s the thing: if you’re not designing your workplace, service, or program with disabled people in mind, you’re probably creating it against them—unintentionally or not.
No matter how well-intentioned you are, you don’t know what you don’t know.
I’ve seen policies with the best intentions fall flat because the people they were written for weren’t included in their development.
I’ve also seen incredible change happen when organisations bring disabled people in from the beginning. Things that had been stuck for years suddenly moved—not because the problem was complicated—but because the wrong people were trying to solve it.
What Co-Design Can Look Like
✅ Having disabled people in the room before the first draft
✅ Paying them for their time, insight, and lived experience
✅ Designing processes that are accessible and safe to participate in
✅ Sharing decision-making power, not just gathering opinions
✅ Building trust through transparency and accountability
My consulting work helps organisations move beyond surface-level engagement and build structures that listen and respond to lived experiences.
It’s not always easy work, but it’s necessary if we’re serious about inclusion.
The Cost of Not Co-Designing
When disabled people are excluded from design processes, we see:
❌ Services that don’t meet their needs
❌ Policies that create new barriers
❌ Communities that feel disempowered and disengaged
❌ More time and money spent fixing the problem later
We also miss out on innovation, trust, and stronger community relationships.
Let’s Talk About Power
At its core, co-design is about redistributing power.
That can be uncomfortable, especially for organisations used to holding decision-making control. But if we want to reduce the risk of ableism in our systems and services, we have to get comfortable with discomfort.
And that means creating space for disabled people to lead.
How to Start Doing Co-Design Well
- Start Early – Don’t wait until your plan is done. Involve people from the start.
- Resource It Properly – Co-design takes time, energy, and money. Budget for it.
- Build Relationships, Not Tokenism – One person doesn’t represent all disabled people. Build diverse, ongoing relationships.
- Be Transparent – Say what will be used, what might not, and what’s possible.
- Reflect and Learn – Not everything will go perfectly. That’s okay. The point is to keep learning and doing better.
Final Thought
Co-design isn’t about ticking a box. It’s about building systems that work for everyone, not just the majority. It’s about shifting from “we’ve always done it this way” to “who else needs to be in this room?”
And when you bring disabled people into those rooms—early, often, and with respect—you don’t just create better inclusion. You make better outcomes for everyone.
Let’s make co-design the standard—not the exception.
If you’re not sure where to start, I can help.
📥 Need support bringing co-design into your organisation’s disability inclusion work? Let’s discuss how I can support you through consulting, workshops, or facilitation.
Or, if you’re not quite there yet, download the Workplace Ableism Self-Audit to see where the invisible barriers are hiding: https://ainsleehooper.com.au/is-your-workplace-truly-inclusive-take-the-ableism-self-audit-to-find-out/
💬 What’s been your experience with co-design? What works—and what needs to change? Drop a comment or message me directly.
🛠️ How to Work with Me
I support organisations across Australia with:
- Disability Inclusion Policy + Action Plan Development
- Inclusive Committee Reviews
- Co-Design + Focus Group Facilitation
- Data Analysis
- Disability Inclusion Advisory
🔗 Book an intro chat to find out how I can support your team.
