‘There was no disability equality programme in education when I started doing it’
Richard Rieser OBE (Geography, 1970)
UK Disability History Month starts on 20 November. Its founder is King’s alum Richard Rieser OBE, who’s also the General Secretary of the Commonwealth Disabled People’s Forum. A respected expert in the field of disability equality and inclusion, Richard talks about being a leader and the lessons he’s learnt.
‘Part of being a leader is being sure of your mind and knowing which path to take,’ says Richard. ‘If you’re not sure, you need to be able to formulate a position by talking to people, reviewing what’s going on and assessing what you can learn from it.
‘You sometimes may not like the individuals you have to talk to. But one of the things I learnt at King’s was you sometimes have to talk to people you don’t necessarily agree with.
‘I’ve had to do that on a number of occasions in areas which were uncharted at the time.’
From Strand to classroom
Richard’s route to championing disability equality and inclusion has its roots in a history of advocacy and campaigning in other sectors.
Part of his journey included a job in an engineering factory, where he campaigned against redundancies, and a teaching role in Hackney, where he helped organise a campaign against an Inner London Education Authority (ILEA) decision to shut down 15 schools. He later became Secretary for Hackney and then Inner London at the National Union of Teachers (which later merged with the Association of Teachers and Lecturers to form the National Education Union).
His move into disability equality and inclusion work began in earnest when he was unexpectedly targeted for compulsory redeployment from his teaching job in Hackney.
‘I was identified as the one to go on the basis I didn’t teach on the games field,’ he explains. ‘The reason for this was because I had polio as a child and I had mobility issues. I felt I was treated badly, so I started investigating my rights. The 1995 Disability Discrimination Act didn’t exist in the 1980s. But I still I took a grievance case out against the decision.’
UK Disability History Month starts on 20 November. Its founder is King’s alum Richard Rieser OBE, who’s also the General Secretary of the Commonwealth Disabled People’s Forum. A respected expert in the field of disability equality and inclusion, Richard talks about being a leader and the lessons he’s learnt.
‘Part of being a leader is being sure of your mind and knowing which path to take,’ says Richard. ‘If you’re not sure, you need to be able to formulate a position by talking to people, reviewing what’s going on and assessing what you can learn from it.
‘You sometimes may not like the individuals you have to talk to. But one of the things I learnt at King’s was you sometimes have to talk to people you don’t necessarily agree with.
‘I’ve had to do that on a number of occasions in areas which were uncharted at the time.’
From Strand to classroom
Richard’s route to championing disability equality and inclusion has its roots in a history of advocacy and campaigning in other sectors.
Part of his journey included a job in an engineering factory, where he campaigned against redundancies, and a teaching role in Hackney, where he helped organise a campaign against an Inner London Education Authority (ILEA) decision to shut down 15 schools. He later became Secretary for Hackney and then Inner London at the National Union of Teachers (which later merged with the Association of Teachers and Lecturers to form the National Education Union).
His move into disability equality and inclusion work began in earnest when he was unexpectedly targeted for compulsory redeployment from his teaching job in Hackney.
‘I was identified as the one to go on the basis I didn’t teach on the games field,’ he explains. ‘The reason for this was because I had polio as a child and I had mobility issues. I felt I was treated badly, so I started investigating my rights. The 1995 Disability Discrimination Act didn’t exist in the 1980s. But I still I took a grievance case out against the decision.’
Beginning disability equality work
Richard won his case and he was seconded to look into the curriculum and disability.
‘A group of parents of disabled children had petitioned the ILEA. They pointed out the ILEA had done work about race, gender and class equality. But there was nothing on equality for disabled children. So the ILEA put me forward to represent them.’
This move saw Richard meet artist and disability activist Micheline Mason.
‘We met in the autumn of 1989 and we had different ideas about how to get things done,’ recalls Richard. ‘My background was from the trade unions, and hers was from the disability and women’s movement. But we learnt from each other.
Micheline Mason
Micheline Mason
‘Meeting Micheline and being open to other ways of doing and seeing things was a key lesson in becoming a better leader in this area. We constantly worked through and challenged our ideas and ways of working.’
The ILEA asked Richard and Micheline to research and write a 60-page booklet. They produced a 300-page book called Disability Equality in the Classroom: A Human Rights Issue.
‘As far as we know, it was the first book anywhere in the world that addressed disability as an equality issue,’ says Richard. ‘Because I’d co-authored it, I had a lot of requests to talk about disability equality around the country. This opened a new area for me.’
Fighting for inclusive education
Richard set up a charity, Disability Equality in Education, in 1996.
‘Comic Relief funded us,’ he recalls. ‘We made a pack for teachers called “Altogether Better”, as part of a campaign for schools to be included in the 1995 Disability Discrimination Act. This was successful and the 2001 Amendment Act saw schools covered by this amended legislation. In 2003, the government asked us to make a film of good practice of Reasonable Adjustments. This was 5.5 hours shot in 41 schools.
‘I was also Chair of the Alliance for Inclusive Education that I’d set up with Micheline. We went a long way to shift things in those first 10 years. We won cases in the High Court and we should have got inclusive education set up properly. All children should have gone to school together with the resources and support they needed brought in around them.
‘Unfortunately, the government let local authorities have the final decision over whether they had to do this or not. It was a missed opportunity.’
Working with the EU and UN
The early 2000s saw Richard work with the EU, spending eight years on the board of the European Disability Forum. In 2005/6, he represented the British disability movement at the UN.
‘The UN were creating the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD),’ he recalls. ‘This was an international agreement to ensure disabled people have the same rights and freedoms as everyone else. I worked with other delegates to help develop this.’
The UN CRPD was adopted by the UN in 2006.
Despite many notable successes, funding issues saw Disability Equality in Education close in 2008. But Richard was determined to keep the work going and he set up a new consultancy, World of Inclusion. To date, this has delivered training in more than 60 countries.
Fighting for inclusive education
Richard set up a charity, Disability Equality in Education, in 1996.
‘Comic Relief funded us,’ he recalls. ‘We made a pack for teachers called “Altogether Better”, as part of a campaign for schools to be included in the 1995 Disability Discrimination Act. This was successful and the 2001 Amendment Act saw schools covered by this amended legislation. In 2003, the government asked us to make a film of good practice of Reasonable Adjustments. This was 5.5 hours shot in 41 schools.
‘I was also Chair of the Alliance for Inclusive Education that I’d set up with Micheline. We went a long way to shift things in those first 10 years. We won cases in the High Court and we should have got inclusive education set up properly. All children should have gone to school together with the resources and support they needed brought in around them.
‘Unfortunately, the government let local authorities have the final decision over whether they had to do this or not. It was a missed opportunity.’
Working with the EU and UN
The early 2000s saw Richard work with the EU, spending eight years on the board of the European Disability Forum. In 2005/6, he represented the British disability movement at the UN.
‘The UN were creating the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD),’ he recalls. ‘This was an international agreement to ensure disabled people have the same rights and freedoms as everyone else. I worked with other delegates to help develop this.’
The UN CRPD was adopted by the UN in 2006.
Despite many notable successes, funding issues saw Disability Equality in Education close in 2008. But Richard was determined to keep the work going and he set up a new consultancy, World of Inclusion. To date, this has delivered training in more than 60 countries.
Changing the media narrative
Richard also did memorable work with Save the Children.
‘We ran a campaign called Invisible Children to challenge the fact there was very little imagery of disabled children in the public domain,’ he says. ‘My second wife, Susie, and her actress daughter convinced some well-known figures to attend a publicity day. After that, we set up the One in Eight group to change the mainstream media view of disability.
‘That involved people like Charles Denton, who was Head of Drama at the BBC. We had a lunch at London’s Groucho Club organised by actor Gary Kemp. We invited the casting directors of all of the soaps. I did a presentation and, within a year, every one of those soaps had major stories on disability. That helped change the climate. It also provided a key lesson about the power of having the endorsement of influential media figures.’
Working with the Commonwealth
Another event that helped change the climate was the resurrection of the Commonwealth Disabled People’s Forum.
‘The first iteration of this died on the vine in the early 2010s,’ says Richard. ‘In 2018, the UK Government held the first Global Summit on Disability at the Excel in London. Lots of people in attendance were old allies who suggested we should get the Forum going again.
‘We got funding from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office to kickstart the organisation and we held an event in New York. I was elected as the secretary. We now have members in 52 countries and are pushing for the Commonwealth to fully support Disability Rights for its 430 million disabled citizens.’
Changing the media narrative
Richard also did memorable work with Save the Children.
‘We ran a campaign called Invisible Children to challenge the fact there was very little imagery of disabled children in the public domain,’ he says. ‘My second wife, Susie, and her actress daughter convinced some well-known figures to attend a publicity day. After that, we set up the One in Eight group to change the mainstream media view of disability.
‘That involved people like Charles Denton, who was Head of Drama at the BBC. We had a lunch at London’s Groucho Club organised by actor Gary Kemp. We invited the casting directors of all of the soaps. I did a presentation and, within a year, every one of those soaps had major stories on disability. That helped change the climate. It also provided a key lesson about the power of having the endorsement of influential media figures.’
Working with the Commonwealth
Another event that helped change the climate was the resurrection of the Commonwealth Disabled People’s Forum.
‘The first iteration of this died on the vine in the early 2010s,’ says Richard. ‘In 2018, the UK Government held the first Global Summit on Disability at the Excel in London. Lots of people in attendance were old allies who suggested we should get the Forum going again.
‘We got funding from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office to kickstart the organisation and we held an event in New York. I was elected as the secretary. We now have members in 52 countries and are pushing for the Commonwealth to fully support Disability Rights for its 430 million disabled citizens.’
‘We launched UK Disability History Month in 2010 when austerity was the incoming political doctrine of the UK Government,’ explains Richard. ‘Disabled people faced 43 different cuts during that decade.
‘We try to cover the range of disability experiences. It’s a way of highlighting some of these fundamental ideas about equality and human rights.
‘This year’s theme is Disability, Life and Death. With the assisted dying debate prominent, it’s particularly relevant.
‘That legislation will adversely impact disabled people, who face enough struggles securing financial support. In an era where medical resources are also under pressure, it’s a genuine fear that disabled people in distress may see ending their life this way as an option.
‘I don’t understand how the new government didn’t anticipate this or appreciate why every single disability organisation in the UK would be against it.’
‘We launched UK Disability History Month in 2010 when austerity was the incoming political doctrine of the UK Government,’ explains Richard. ‘Disabled people faced 43 different cuts during that decade.’
‘We try to cover the range of disability experiences. It’s a way of highlighting some of these fundamental ideas about equality and human rights.
‘This year’s theme is Disability, Life and Death. With the assisted dying debate prominent, it’s particularly relevant.
‘That legislation will adversely impact disabled people, who face enough struggles securing financial support. In an era where medical resources are also under pressure, it’s a genuine fear that disabled people in distress may see ending their life this way as an option.
‘I don’t understand how the new government didn’t anticipate this or appreciate why every single disability organisation in the UK would be against it.’
The fight continues
Richard was awarded an OBE in 2021 for his work in disability equality and inclusion.
‘There was no disability equality programme in education when I started doing it,’ reflects Richard. ‘I’ve campaigned in the Labour Party to make sure that inclusive education for disabled people would be a priority when a new Labour government came in.
‘But they haven’t done that. And more than 100,000 parents have signed petitions against current plans to force inclusion by putting separate units into schools, rather than training teachers and changing funding and the curriculum so everybody can thrive in the mainstream.’
Despite such disappointments and four decades fighting for change, Richard remains remarkably upbeat and resilient.
He says: ‘One key leadership lesson I learnt early on is to always be driven by integrity and principles, and not to compromise on those. Because they remain key sources of fuel in challenging times such as these.
‘I’ve spent decades trying to change the way the issue of disability equality and disability inclusion in education is seen. I’ll continue to do that. If we can’t get it right for that group, we’re not going to get it right for anybody. And getting it right is everybody’s issue. It’s not just mine.’
The fight continues
Richard was awarded an OBE in 2021 for his work in disability equality and inclusion.
‘There was no disability equality programme in education when I started doing it,’ reflects Richard. ‘I’ve campaigned in the Labour Party to make sure that inclusive education for disabled people would be a priority when a new Labour government came in.
‘But they haven’t done that. And more than 100,000 parents have signed petitions against current plans to force inclusion by putting separate units into schools, rather than training teachers and changing funding and the curriculum so everybody can thrive in the mainstream.’
Despite such disappointments and four decades fighting for change, Richard remains remarkably upbeat and resilient.
He says: ‘One key leadership lesson I learnt early on is to always be driven by integrity and principles, and not to compromise on those. Because they remain key sources of fuel in challenging times such as these.
‘I’ve spent decades trying to change the way the issue of disability equality and disability inclusion in education is seen. I’ll continue to do that. If we can’t get it right for that group, we’re not going to get it right for anybody. And getting it right is everybody’s issue. It’s not just mine.’
Read more about Richard’s work at World of Inclusion.
EDITORIAL TEAM
Teresa Richards
Ellie Stone
WRITERS
Kelly Archer
Paul Brooks
Hermione Cameron
Kate Denereaz
Kate Hazlehurst
Joely Langston
DESIGN
Principal design by Jonathan Vickers
Additional design by Harpoon Productions and Carly Yung
Photography by Nathan Clarke and David Tett
WITH SPECIAL THANKS TO
JH Norris
ALUMNI & EDITORIAL OFFICE
King’s College London
57 Waterloo Road,
London,
SE1 8WA
© King’s College London 2025
InTouch is published by the University’s Philanthropy & Alumni Engagement Office. The opinions expressed in it are those of the writers and not necessarily those of the University.
If you have a story for our Spring 2026 issue, email us at forever@kcl.ac.uk
Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | Accessibility Statement
EDITORIAL TEAM
Teresa Richards
Ellie Stone
WRITERS
Kelly Archer
Paul Brooks
Hermione Cameron
Kate Denereaz
Kate Hazlehurst
Joely Langston
DESIGN
Principal design by Jonathan Vickers
Additional design by Harpoon Productions and Carly Yung
Photography by Nathan Clarke and David Tett
WITH SPECIAL THANKS TO
JH Norris
ALUMNI & EDITORIAL OFFICE
King’s College London
57 Waterloo Road,
London,
SE1 8WA
InTouch is published by the University’s Philanthropy & Alumni Engagement Office. The opinions expressed in it are those of the writers and not necessarily those of the University.
If you have a story for our Spring 2026 issue, email us at forever@kcl.ac.uk
© King’s College London 2025
Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | Accessibility Statement
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