While a wheelchair user may be the universally recognised symbol of disabled people when it comes to accessible toilets, blue badges and parking spaces, they account for a low percentage of disabled people in Wales, and no wheelchair-user has ever been elected to the Senedd. Given the high proportion of disabled people in Wales, why are so few part of our political landscape?
Over 640,000 people in Wales are disabled, with research showing that:
- 1 in 4 adults experience chronic pain
- 1 in 10 people report a long-term mental health condition
- 1 in 6 adults have some level of hearing loss
- 27% of adults report a long-term health condition
- More than 80,000 people report a cognitive or learning difficulty
- Over 111,000 people in Wales live with sight loss
These are not abstract figures: they are your neighbours, colleagues, carers, parents, volunteers, and community leaders. They all contribute to Welsh society but remain significantly underrepresented in local councils, the Senedd, and other decision-making spaces.
Why is this?
Disabled people often internalise society’s assumptions that they are “incapable,” after years of exclusion, underestimated competence, or being treated as fragile. Non-disabled assumptions about what disabled people can or cannot do reinforce these barriers.
But it’s 2026 and the focus needs to shift.
Lived experience gives disabled people valuable skills such as adaptability, creativity, and persistence that make them exceptionally good at a variety of tasks.
When disabled people are rarely seen in leadership, highly skilled jobs, or creative work, society assumes it is because they cannot contribute. Fixating on what they think someone can’t do, or assuming that they will “struggle” limits opportunities and reinforces exclusion.
It’s time to challenge these perceptions.
It’s not just about attitudes, though. Council offices, chambers, and community venues are frequently inaccessible, with a lack of ramps or lifts for physical access, poor lighting, or no provision for BSL interpreters or assistive technology. Even political hustings — supposedly open to all — are often held in buildings that exclude the very people whose voices are missing.
Campaigning also demands time, energy, and financial resources that many disabled people simply don’t have. Disabled people in Wales are statistically more likely to live in poverty, and the additional costs of disability — transport, equipment, and support — make unpaid political work even harder.
Accessing political information can also be a challenge. Party manifestos are not always available in accessible formats, and local political events rarely provide BSL interpretation, captions, or Easy Read materials. When the political process itself is inaccessible, how can everyone participate?
Why disabled representation matters
When disabled people are excluded from political life, decisions are made without the insight of those who understand barriers firsthand.
Policies on public transport become more realistic when shaped by those who rely on buses but need accessible routes and vehicle design. Housing strategies will improve when informed by people who understand the daily realities of navigating unsuitable homes. Education and employment policies become more inclusive when crafted by those who have experienced the barriers and can suggest ways to remove them.
Put simply, diverse representation changes which questions are asked, which priorities are set, and which policies are implemented, making society more inclusive for everyone.
The barriers disabled candidates face — and how to address them
Standing for election is, of course, challenging for anyone, but disabled candidates often face additional costs and barriers that non-disabled candidates do not encounter. Without vital support, many disabled people are excluded — not because they lack passion or ability, but because the system wasn’t built with them in mind.
To tackle these imbalances, the Welsh Government has established the Access to Elected Office Fund Wales, which is administered by Disability Wales.
The fund provides practical, tailored support for disabled people standing for election, covering impairment-related costs and ensuring candidates of all parties, as well as independents, can participate.
Support is available for the 2026 Senedd election and the 2027 local elections.
These elections are a vital opportunity to reshape who gets to be heard in Welsh democracy.
Let’s make Welsh democracy truly inclusive
Disabled people remain significantly underrepresented in Welsh public life, but with the right support, that can change.
Disabled people belong in politics, not as exceptions, but as leaders, decision-makers, and representatives of their communities. Removing barriers doesn’t lead to advantage, it creates equity. Wales cannot build an inclusive future while excluding a quarter of its population from the decisions that shape it.
The Access to Elected Office Fund Wales is a crucial step towards levelling the playing field. But the real change comes when political parties actively support disabled members to progress, and when disabled people feel empowered to stand.
Find out more about the Access to Elected Office Fund Wales.
