Å·ÃÀAV

We have today published our Disability-Inclusive Laboratories in the Chemical Sciences report, which exposes systemic barriers for disabled chemists and calls on universities, industry, funders and policymakers to take urgent action to create more inclusive chemical laboratories.

The report warns inaction could shut out world-class talent and see the discipline miss out on major breakthroughs, like those delivered by pioneering disabled scientists, including chemistry Nobel Laureates Dorothy Hodgkin and Sir John Cornforth, and legendary physicist Stephen Hawking.

To mark the launch, we will host a special webinar in conjunction with the Royal Society on Tuesday, 25 November, at 3.30pm. The event will be , with speakers from the Å·ÃÀAV, industry and academia discussing what can be done collectively to address the barriers facing disabled scientists.

More than 400 chemists contributed to the report through surveys and interviews, revealing nearly a third of disabled chemists (31%) have experienced bullying or discrimination due to disability, while over a quarter (27%) of disabled chemists say they don’t feel a sense of belonging at work. Three-quarters (75%) of disabled chemists say there is a lack of awareness around their support needs.

The findings of our research are both sobering and invigorating. They reveal the lived experiences of disabled chemists, which are stories of resilience, determination and opportunities for equity. They also showcase practical, achievable solutions that make our field fairer.

If we fail to create more inclusive working environments, the reality is that we might continue to miss out on exceptional minds whose work can change the ways in which we view and interact with our world. It is crucial the chemical sciences community invests in creating inclusive and accessible workspaces to ensure talented people can flourish.

Dr Helen Pain, Å·ÃÀAV Chief Executive

Our most recent Pay and Reward Report also revealed those with disabilities typically earn lower salaries than non-disabled colleagues and are less likely to hold senior roles.

Setting out 15 recommendations to improve inclusivity, we are calling for accessible laboratory design, clear adjustment processes for disabled lab users, and mandatory disability awareness training for all lab users. The organisation recommends embedding inclusive culture into everyday practice so that accessibility becomes routine rather than reactive.

With 83% of chemists surveyed saying institutions should have dedicated disability staff networks and most identifying simple changes that would immediately improve laboratory access, the report finds strong appetite for improvement across the sector. Alongside the report, the Å·ÃÀAV has compiled a library of case studies outlining examples of good practices and adjustments made across the community to improve accessibility in chemistry laboratory environments.

Contributors to our report shared experiences of stigma, inconsistent support, poor adjustment processes and harmful organisational cultures that too often penalise disabled people. Many described being pushed from laboratory work altogether and reshaping careers simply to avoid inaccessible environments.

The changes proposed will benefit the whole workforce, enhancing safety, efficiency and flexibility for all laboratory users. The report highlights the ‘dropped kerb’ principle, where adjustments designed for disabled people become universal improvements that help everyone.

This work forms part of our wider effort to build an inclusive scientific culture, including dedicated programmes supporting disabled and neurodivergent chemical scientists, a strong emphasis on diversity, and the development of an overarching I&D strategy. The organisation also leads work to address structural inequalities through its science culture programme and celebrates progress within the community through its annual Inclusion and Diversity Prize.

Disabled scientists have shared their experiences, shining a light on the barriers preventing them from contributing fully, and this report shows the problems they face are systemic rather than isolated. The findings evidence the cost of inaction, the loss of talent and the urgent need for collective responsibility across the chemical sciences.

Chemistry must recognise talent is defined by ability, not disability. When we judge scientists on what they can contribute rather than on the barriers placed in their way, we open the door to a richer, more inventive and more representative discipline. We need the entire sector to work together and redesign laboratories, policies and cultures so every scientist can thrive.

Dr Ale Palermo, Head of Global Inclusion for the Å·ÃÀAV

Read the report

Visit our dedicated Disability-Inclusive Laboratories in the Chemical Sciences page, which features our report, our living library of case studies and some of the key facts from this piece of research.