About co-production

Disabled people, in the 1970s, were so tired of not being included in key legislative decisions, or in anything really, that they coined the phrase ‘nothing about us, without us’….

Over the last decade the concept of co-production has often been promoted, primarily in the public sector - as part of a general trend to encourage a greater role for users of public services. Increasingly public services are required to be much more user driven. And while the private sector is well used to market testing its new and emerging products with potential customers it has not always been at the vanguard of co-production with disabled people.

In this context the concept of co-production is helpful in ensuring that organisations do not inadvertently develop policy, practice, procedure or products and services without involving disabled people in every step of the process, including design.

Who is doing it?

Many organisations from both the public and business sector across the UK, and in particular members of the Employers’ Forum on Disability, adopt the practice of co-production. Some do so informally and in certain situations, and others as a routine way of getting things done.

And true co-production, as opposed to simple consultation can help in the process of becoming disability confident. Some organisations will use their Disabled Employee Network or a Disability Interest Group, and others may set up additionally, an external panel of stakeholders to support and underpin their thinking.

How can my organisation benefit?

KNA is currently collecting good stories about co-production. In time we will publish a simple toolkit for employers wanting to adopt best practice principles in involving disabled people in the development of organisation policy, practice, procedure or products and services.

If you have a story about how your organisation has significantly improved a business activity, a policy, a product or a service, by choosing to work with disabled people from day one, then we would love to hear from you.

Contact Angela Kefford Watson if you have one.