Shared resources

The MRS Unlimited Steering Group presents a range of helpful resources to help guide you through disability inclusive research whoever you are. We are a driving force for disability inclusive research and researchers globally serving the market research sector, businesses, and of course the people who give into the research sector. 

If you would like the MRS Unlimited team to share and show how resources can be implemented into your business please contact us to arrange digital or in person sessions. 

Please note that this is a work-in-progress resource page with uploads happening monthly. Please contact tom.richer@differentology.co.uk with any suggestions. 

• MRS best practice documents

• Inclusive workplace practices
  
  
  • Reasonable adjustments
  • Neurodiversity
  • Sight loss
  • Deafness

• Inclusive Research Practices

• Case Studies

MRS Best Practice Documents

MRS Best Practice Guide on Collecting Sample Data on Physical Disabilities and/or Mental Health Conditions March 2022 

MRS has produced this Best Practice Guide to help practitioners act legally and ethically in collecting data and asking research participants questions on physical disabilities and/or mental health conditions.

MRS Inclusion Pledge Updated 2023

MRS has updated its Inclusion Pledge for CEOs to improve representation in research, as well as launching a pledge specifically aimed at independent consultants to encourage commitment to inclusive practices across the sector.

• The refreshed pledge for businesses now covers the commitment to consider both visible and invisible disabilities in the sector’s places of work and to ensure that communications and systems are developed with the needs of these groups in mind.
• Also added to the pledge is the need to actively consider inclusive research designs and methodologies in projects and to ensure transparent communication around samples, particularly for those seeking to be nationally representative.
  
  

MRS Best Practice Guide on Research Participant Vulnerability 2016

MRS has produced this best practice guide and checklist to help practitioners identify, understand and respond to research participant vulnerabilities effectively and consistently. This will help to ensure that the needs of vulnerable participants are taken into account in product and service development, policymaking and regulatory supervision and enforcement.

Researchers can use the questions in this best practice guide to assess whether a participant is in a vulnerable position and how to conduct research in such a manner as to reduce the likelihood of causing harm or adverse effects.

MRS Diversity & Inclusion Best Practice Guide: Use of Language

This document examines what not to say/terms to avoid. It’s important to ensure that all people are referred to, and given the option to declare themselves as, using language and terminology that they are comfortable with. The ‘correct’ terminology is personal, so it is always a good idea to find out how people prefer to describe themselves and use those terms, rather than making assumptions. Language preferences and our understanding of the impact of certain words changes – ensure you are using the most up-to-date recommendations.

Inclusive workplace practices

The MRS Unlimited Steering Group presents a range of helpful resources to help guide you through disability inclusive workplace practices. We are a driving force for disability inclusive research and researchers globally serving the market research sector, businesses, and of course the people who give into the research sector. 

If you would like the MRS Unlimited team to share and show how resources can be implemented into your business please contact us to arrange digital or in person sessions. 

Please note that this is a work-in-progress resource page with uploads happening monthly. 

Neurodiversity Hub

MRS Unlimited presents a range of passionate efforts of a great many people in the Neurodiversity Hub community of practice, some fabulous resources have been assembled that we hope will go a long way in assisting students and young adults get through their university and college studies, obtain a job and start a career.

There are resources for autistic students and young adults, parents and carers, employers, university staff, aspiring entrepreneurs, architects & building designers and senior secondary school students.

Please spend some time checking out these great resources we’ve made available for you.

Reasonable adjustments

Gov.uk Reasonable adjustments for workers with disabilities or health conditions*

Employers must make reasonable adjustments to make sure workers with disabilities, or physical or mental health conditions, are not substantially disadvantaged when doing their jobs.

This applies to all workers, including trainees, apprentices, contract workers and business partners. Whilst at MRS Unlimited we want to push forward thinking inclusive practices, it is important to highlight what is mandatory. The webpage highlights some thoughtstarters to how businesses can apply reasonable adjustments and provide support for those seeking for help through the DEA (Disability Employment Advisor) and a link through to Access to Work for employees.

TUC Disability passports - What is a reasonable adjustments passport? (includes template)

This is for either employees or employers to formalise reasonable adjustments between the two parties to ensure accessibility needs to work are met. The TUC Disability passport also includes a template policy to follow and to have signatures and dates of reasonable adjustments in place. 

MRS Unlimited sees this resource as a great way of securing that employees have what they need to work and employers feel that they have met the needs of their employees in writing.

Citizens Advice: Asking your employer for changes to help you if you’re disabled

Your employer might have to make adjustments to help you do your job as well as someone without a disability. The Equality Act 2010 calls these ‘reasonable adjustments’. They can be changes to policies, working practices or physical layouts, or providing extra equipment or support.

 The Bridge Between - Neurodivergence in the workplace and reasonable adjustments

The Bridge Between collaborated with the insightful neurodiversity advocate Neurodivergent Lou on reasonable adjustments in the workplace.

The 30 minute interview asked 10 questions to hopefully break the taboo around reasonable adjustments and to help employers and employees with first steps in understanding processes. The interview was turned into Lou’s instagram post which she is well known for.

The Great Big Workplace Adjustments Survey 2023 

The Great Big Workplace Adjustments Survey sponsored by Microlink, explores the process, experience, and impact of workplace adjustments. Find out what disabled employees and managers said, view their recommendations for employers and download key infographics.

Neurodiversity

Talking about autism and neurodiversity at work*

This guide aims to give you the confidence to talk about autism and neurodiversity at work, and with colleagues who have a diagnosis. Getting language right and having supportive conversations about strengths and challenges creates a culture of acceptance where staff can thrive.

Making your workplace accessible *

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We can all benefit from being in a neurodiverse team. By having open and accepting conversations and making some small changes to be more inclusive, everyone can be happier and more productive at work.

This quick start guide provides simple tips to make your workplace more accessible to neurodivergent employees.

Inclusive interviews*

This guide aims to help you think about changes you can make before, during and after an interview to help autistic candidates. If you interview someone who is autistic they may find the interaction difficult, struggle with the uncertainty of going somewhere new or have added sensory differences. By taking away these barriers you can find the best candidates.

(Long reads)

Hult research, thinking differently: neurodiversity in the workplace

This project by Hult International Business School was set out to advance understanding of how neurodiverse individuals survive and thrive in the workplace.

Intelligent resource: supporting neurodiverse talent in the recruitment process

It is now widely accepted that workforce diversity is conducive to improved levels of innovation and profitability - and advancements in HR processes reflect the near universal desire to better engage with underrepresented groups. However, there is one demographic which is still slipping under the radar of the vast majority of talent acquisition heads – neurodiverse individuals.

Sight loss 

Business Disability Forum’s Sight Loss Toolkit

Understanding sight loss

IAPB research shows that 1.1 billion people globally have sight loss and the RNIB estimates that 250 people start to lose their sight every day in the UK. This is the equivalent of one person every six minutes.

Living with sight loss in a predominantly sighted world can be challenging. It can affect all aspects of everyday life including accessing healthcare, finding work, communication, getting around, and making purchases.

The Sight Loss Toolkit aims to remove these barriers by increasing understanding of sight loss.

Thomas Pocklington Trust - Sightloss Toolkit 2014

This Toolkit shares good practice principles around inclusion and engagement of visually impaired people in the research process and practical guidelines on producing accessible materials.

The toolkit highlights the most important issues, definitions and divergences so that researchers new to the sight loss sector can begin to build a knowledge base without ‘reinventing the wheel’.

We need to point out that this toolkit was created in 2014 to share good practice. Although the principles of engaging and recruiting research participants remain the same, some new platforms have emerged since this time.

Deafness 

Access to Work

Access to Work is a Government grant to support deaf and disabled people to make work-related adjustments, such as enabling them to attend job interviews, getting on with their work or covering British Sign Language interpreter’s fees.

Career progression challenges and deaf people

The Deaf Advance research report summarises the findings of a national survey of Deaf people to better understand the challenges they face in relation to employment and career progression. Included in the report are recommendations / suggestions on how organisations can support Deaf people to progress in their careers,

NRCPD

The National Registers of Communication Professionals working with Deaf and Deafblind people (NRCPD) is the national voluntary regulator of over 1,700 registered language service professionals such as lipspekers, translators, sign language interpreters, notetakers and Speech to Text Reporters. You can search for language service professionals to provide a communication service or to check whether the language service professional is registered.

The role of a British Sign Language interpreter

This website explains the role and qualities of becoming a sign language interpreter and the journey interpreters need to undertake to becoming registered with The National Registers of Communication Professionals working with Deaf and Deafblind people (NRCPD).

British Sign Language

Sign language varies across different countries globally but there are some signs that are internationally recognised to sign language users. In the UK, most people in the Deaf community use British Sign Language to communicate with each other.

Inclusive research practices

The MRS Unlimited Steering Group presents a range of helpful resources to help guide you through disability inclusive research practices. We are a driving force for disability inclusive research and researchers globally serving the market research sector, businesses, and of course the people who give into the research sector.

If you would like the MRS Unlimited team to share and show how resources can be implemented into your business please contact us to arrange digital or in person sessions. 

Please note that this is a work-in-progress resource page with uploads happening monthly. 

A Comprehensive Guide to Accessible User Research: Part 1 – Project Planning

Article 2: Preparing and recruitment for accessible user research

Article 3: Conducting and reporting accessible user research

“Researchers often want to include people with access needs in their studies but don’t know where to begin. This three-part series covers the various considerations for adapting your practice to include people with disabilities.” 

MRS Unlimited see this resource as a great introduction to get thinking about accessible disability research in your agency. Perhaps you’d like to share this resource with your team to start a conversation, or to update and review some of your current disability research practices.

A practical guide to inclusive research 

This was one of the first resources shared within the MRS Unlimited steering group to start a conversation around inclusive disability research with our agencies. For anyone new to inclusive research looking at the process of beginning a project, this is a good first step in understanding what is inclusive research and why is it so important.

Planning and conducting remote usability studies for accessibility - Rosenfeld event

This easy to read and clear presentation is helpful in planning and conducting remote usability studies for accessibility. If you are beginning your journey to more inclusive research for disabled participants, this guide will help teams begin to think about the adjustments they may need to make to their usual day to day research processes to make them more accessible.

Guidance Inclusive communication by GOV.UK

This set of four inclusive communication guidance resources help businesses and people communicate inclusively of disabled people. The documents included look at communicating using inclusive language and to know which words to use, portraying disabled people positively and realistically, making sure your communications are accessible and on the right channels to reach disabled people effectively.

Disability-Inclusive Communications Guidelines UN 

In an ever-connected world, communications have grown into a must-have cross-cutting skill for every United Nations (UN) professional. Inclusive and accessible communications benefit everyone, both persons with disabilities and the general public. By practising disability-inclusive communications, we can reflect the true diversity of our societies. 

Case Studies

The MRS Unlimited Steering Group presents a range of helpful resources to help guide you through disability inclusive leading practices. We are a driving force for disability inclusive research and researchers globally serving the market research sector, businesses, and of course the people who give into the research sector. 

If you would like the MRS Unlimited team to share and show how resources can be implemented into your business please contact us to arrange digital or in person sessions. 

Please note that this is a work-in-progress resource page with uploads happening monthly. 

Finding brands through a d.fferent lens

 It’s estimated that 22% of the UK’s population is considered neurodiverse, but this percentage doesn’t feel well reflected in the way brands communicate. It’s not just a missed opportunity for brands, but an area that researchers need to try to understand more. Tom Richer shares a case study exploring the relationship between neurodiverse consumers and brands, as well as his powerful lived experience of the highs, lows, and everything in between.

Creative differences - by Universal Music UK

The handbook highlights that while nearly all creative companies recognise the value of neurodiversity in the workplace only very few have neurodivergent-friendly policies and practices in place. It goes on to provide a range of practical solutions companies can adopt to make their workforces more accessible in areas including recruitment, mentorship and career progression.

MRS Unlimited see this as a resource to inspire other businesses to start thinking about actively implementing neurodivergent-friendly policies into their market research practices. You may find that running a project that others can get behind will drive businesses closer to inclusion and the inclusion pledge.

Channel 4 - Mirror on Neurodiversity

At Channel 4, we’ve been running our award winning ‘Mirror on the Industry’ project for 5 years. This is a study that audits TV advertising to see how diverse and representative it really is. We are now building on the project with the ‘Mirror on…’ series. A series of individual reports that take a closer look at some of the topics we evaluate in the wider study and dig deeper into the feelings and perceptions of our audiences. Following our Body Diversity and Women’s Safety reports in 2022, the next topic we’re exploring in this series is Neurodiversity. Our Mirror on the Industry part 3 research found that only 1 in 1,000 ads audited featured neurodiverse representation, highlighting the need to better understand the importance and challenges of authentically representing neurodivergent individuals and explore practical solutions for addressing them. Our aim, through this report, is to shine a light on this currently marginalised, excluded and commonly stereotyped group; underlining the need for advertisers and brands to go beyond physical disability, better design for disability inclusion and achieve accessibility on a holistic level.