About Us
Our History: Bristol Disability Equality Forum started as a consultation forum in 1994...
…within Bristol City Council supported by the Equalities Team. They did this so they could consult Disabled people on how to improve Disability Equality in Bristol and remove barriers to inclusion.
As we developed we set our own priorities, rather than just responding to the Council’s priorities. We became more proactive and, in 2009, our members voted to become independent of the Council. We then established ourselves as an independent charity.
During 2024 we consulted members about changing to become a Charitable Incorporated Organisation to give more protection and stability. We are now a registered CIO (1211026).
Please see the link to the Charity Commission here
We see our history as a natural continuation of the work of the Avon Coalition of Disabled People which campaigned for the rights of Disabled people from 1988.
BDEF Membership
All Disabled adults who live, work or study in Bristol and the areas immediately surrounding it, can be a Full Member.
Anyone who does not identify as a Disabled person, or lives outside our membership area, can become an Associate Member. These members can attend meetings, get information and join in discussions. The difference is that only full members can vote on decisions about BDEF.
The Social Model of Disability
The Social Model of Disability is part of everything we do. This means that while we recognise and value our differences and impairments, we believe that we are Disabled by the way society is organised – its attitudes towards us, and the barriers it creates for Disabled people to be included, live independently and have control over their lives.
To find out more about the Social Model of Disability, Disability Wales has produced a Social Model toolkit which goes into more detail : SMD-Toolkit
We know that some people who fall with our definition might not identify as Disabled. For example, lots of people don’t see their impairment as a ‘problem’ and so don’t think of themselves as ‘Disabled’. However, we view anyone with an impairment as part of our community because it is society that Disables us, not our bodies.
Some of us were born with impairments, others have become Disabled; some have visible impairments or differences and for some they are hidden. All are welcome in BDEF.