Disability Wales launches new manifesto ahead of Senedd election

Over the last few weeks, I’ve been reflecting on the role of Disabled People’s Organisations in Wales and the responsibility we all share — collectively — to protect, strengthen and elevate the national voice of disabled people as we head into a critical election period. Disability Wales has been, and remains, the overarching national organisation representing disabled people in Wales. Their leadership, legacy and influence matter. Their manifesto speaks powerfully to the challenges disabled people face, and the Bridgeman Community Foundation stands fully behind every call they have made. Our support is unwavering. But we also have to be honest, respectful and clear about something that is increasingly being felt across the sector. Disability Wales describes itself as the “home for every DPO in Wales.” That vision is important — and we support it wholeheartedly. But at the moment, their membership is closed. Yes, it is part of an internal review. Yes, capacity issues are real across the sector. But this creates a tension at exactly the wrong moment: we are approaching an election where unity, clarity and the amplification of all disabled voices will be essential. Right now, disabled people need a system that embraces every DPO — national, local, grassroots, emerging, culturally specific, LGBTQ+ disabled groups, neurodivergent-led groups, Deaf-led organisations, and organisations led by people with learning disabilities. Wales cannot afford a landscape where only the most established DPOs are inside the room, and the rest are left outside looking in. That is how voices become lost, and how policy becomes disconnected from lived experience. Let me also be absolutely clear about the position of the Bridgeman Community Foundation. We are not here to compete with Disability Wales. We are not trying to take their place. We are not trying to dilute their mandate. We do not want to become an alternative national body. Our purpose is different — and importantly, complementary. We are here to strengthen the ecosystem, widen participation, and ensure that every disabled person and every DPO — regardless of size, resources, or geography — has a seat at the table and the ability to shape Wales’ future. If we can support Disability Wales to do the same, then that is exactly what we will do. Collaboration, not competition, is the only sustainable future for disabled people’s leadership in Wales. If the closure of membership is a sign of capacity pressures — and I suspect it is — then this is not a moment for criticism, but for support. That is why I am calling on the Welsh Government to step in and ensure Disability Wales has the resourcing and infrastructure it needs to continue fulfilling its national role. Strengthening their capacity is not a luxury — it is an essential investment in Wales’ democratic health. A national voice without the capacity to engage widely is a national voice constrained. The disability rights landscape in Wales is at a crossroads. After years of austerity, the ongoing impact of inadequate social care, and new challenges emerging from UK-wide policy shifts, disabled people cannot afford fragmentation or silence. This is exactly the moment when DPOs need to stand shoulder to shoulder — not as competitors, but as partners in a shared mission for justice, equality and systemic reform. So I want to say this directly: Disability Wales, we support you. We recognise your importance. We value the work you do and the pressures you face. And if the Bridgeman Community Foundation can assist you, stand with you, or strengthen your capacity in any way — we are ready. Our solidarity is total. Our intention is honest. Our purpose is collective. This is a moment for courage, unity and clarity. Wales deserves a disability sector where every DPO — from the longest-established organisations to the newest grassroots movements — can thrive, be heard and have influence. And that will only happen if we build the future together. The Bridgeman Community Foundation stands ready to do exactly that.