Ms Gillian Kearns:

Yes. Unfortunately, a lot of the processes we are involved in are quite adversarial. We are allowed to cope; we are not allowed to thrive. Nothing in our systems is set up for us to thrive and that is what needs to change. We need to be seen as fully autonomous, rights-bearing human beings, just the same as our non-disabled peers, and not as recipients of charity or pity. We are not near there yet. The process is a huge part of what is creating so much difficulty for disabled in accessing employment.