The IP Ability committee are keen to spread the word about their work, and about the importance of inclusivity for disabled people and carers in the IP professions. It all helps to get conversations going and remove some of the stigma around disability. That in turn helps us become more confident about the way we support disabled colleagues and employees, as well as carers. Perhaps even more importantly, it makes it easier for disabled people and carers to speak up about the support and adjustments they need in order to make the contributions they know they are capable of.
Committee members have provided the following articles and interviews in IP sector publications:
- A January 2020 article on tackling the stigma of disability in IP, for World Trademark Review: also see our summary here
- The cover story, “Sense check”, for the February 2020 issue of CITMA Review, about supporting colleagues on the autism spectrum
- An article in World IP Review‘s June 2020 “Influential Women in IP 2020” publication, which included contributions from IP Ability committee co-leads Marianne Privett and Francesca Rivers
- A July 2020 article for World Trademark Review, on the results of IP Ability’s 2019 launch survey and the need for better disability support in the IP professions
- A July 2020 World Trademark Review multi-page spread looking at all aspects of “Diversity and inclusion: in-house perspectives and challenges”, including disability
- An episode of CIPA’s “Two IPs in a Pod” podcast series in September 2020, discussing IP Ability’s background, activities and future plans
- “Now you see it”, a cover story about invisible disabilities in the November 2021 issue of CITMA Review, alongside an article with her personal take on the subject by committee member Becky Campbell
- “‘I blamed myself for my differences’: Neurodivergence and IP”, Becky Campbell’s March 2022 article for World IP Review to mark Neurodiversity Celebration Week: see here for the full text
We are grateful to these publications for helping us to promote the great work that IP Ability are doing. We hope it empowers more people to get involved in the campaign for change.
There’s also no shortage of IP Ability contributions in IP Inclusive’s own publications, for example:
- An article on “COVID-19 and disability”, exploring the additional challenges the virus and disease have brought for disabled people
- “The Menopause: Potential Workplace Adjustments”, an article summarising some adjustments an employer might make to support someone suffering from menopause symptoms
- “Spotlight on carers”, an interview piece with three IP professionals about their personal experiences as carers
- An article on “Working remotely: making it work”, with some hints and tips from an IP Ability committee member for whom working remotely is no new thing
- A January 2021 article summarising IP Ability’s first year and signposting various topical resources
- During 2021, articles about Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, eating disorders, living with multiple sclerosis, Autistic Pride Day and International Stammering Awareness Day, as well as about allyship for disabled people, reasonable adjustments for professional exams (see here and here) and accessibility in European Patent Office hearings.
- The outcomes of a joint IP Ability and Women in IP coffee date discussion, in May 2021, on “What does disability look like?”
You may also be interested in the July and September 2020 interviews we recorded with IP Ability committee members Jonathan Andrews and Chris Clarke, on the topic of “Allies & Intersectionality”. Plus there’s an excellent series of recordings by the IP Inclusive North of England network answering questions from diversity allies, several of which relate to supporting disabled people: these “Ask Me Anything” resources can be found here.
If you can help us with future publicity, please contact IPAbility [email protected].