Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the Disability Unit took steps with organisations representing disabled people to develop the Ask, Don't Assume campaign.

The Disability Unit worked closely with disabled people and organisations representing them when developing the 'Ask Don't Assume' campaign. This ensured that their insights and lived experiences were incorporated into the development and design of our public campaign to change perceptions and challenge unhelpful stereotypes and behaviours towards disabled people.

As part of the development of the campaign, the Disability Unit set up a Campaign Reference Group, made up of twelve organisations representing disabled people’s organisations and disability charities. We engaged with this group through regular workshops and in-depth discussions to help shape the campaign, and they were consulted on several aspects, including the 'Ask Don't Assume' hashtag, ahead of the launch.

A number of disabled people also worked directly on this campaign, both internally across the Equality Hub, and externally through creative agencies. Four disabled influencers were also involved in this campaign, and the campaign’s images were created by a disabled photographer who has Type 2 Usher Syndrome (deaf and blind). Their insights and lived experiences helped inform the development of the campaign.