Stigma reduction approaches 1: Inclusion champions

← Stigma reduction approaches Download this page as a PDF

Who are inclusion champions?

Inclusion champions are most commonly men and women with disabilities. The role can also be taken on by other key people in the community who may have power, influence and trust, such as a teacher, female leader or youth leader.

Inclusion champions can have various names, including ‘disability champions’ or ‘disability advocates’. For the purpose of this guidance, we use the term ‘inclusion champions’.

As empowered individuals, inclusion champions can engage with a wide range of stigma reduction activities.

What is the role of an inclusion champion?

Community outreach

Champions can carry out activities in the community, including training, using media, and home visits. This direct contact can prompt discussion, challenge stereotypes and enable them to share lived experience.

Peer-to-peer support

Inclusion champions can provide important peer support to people with disabilities, helping to build self-confidence, providing psycho-social support, challenging stereotypes and being a positive role model.

Structural influence

They can help to influence discriminatory laws and policies, and can take on roles within organisations to challenge stereotypes and bring lived experience to influence organisational culture.

What do they need to fulfil this role?

We have learned that it is important to ask people with disabilities what they need to help fulfil these roles, in a way that is sustainable. Training should include how to address stigma, with ongoing support and mentoring if needed.

Support needs are likely to vary across individuals and contexts. For example, a young woman with a disability in a rural area who dropped out of school is likely to need more support as an inclusion champion than an educated man with a disability in an urban setting. Ensure you build this into your design and budget.

Case study
Inclusion champions in Nigeria

The Nigeria inclusive family planning project featured inclusion champions chosen by the local ward development committee. Five were chosen per site: three people with disabilities, a young person and a female leader.

Local leaders were involved as they have a voice in the community and were able to work alongside people with disabilities to address stigma.

A woman in Nigeria wearing a colourful purple headscarf, talks animatedly to a group of women.

Inclusion champion Ramatu took part in the Nigeria project.

Both disability and family planning can be stigmatising and taboo subjects. The inclusion champions provided peer-to-peer support and training for people with disabilities on family planning, which included challenging stigma.

Inclusion champion Ramatu (pictured above) said: “Since I was given the role of inclusive champion in the community, it has shown to me that I can do anything. I have the right to move around. I have the right to say whatever that I know is my right to say, how to claim it. So it makes me bring the women on board, to join me.”

Hear Ramatu talk about her role (1 minute):

The female champions explained they were better able to relate to the women, drawing on personal experiences, offering psycho-social support and providing a trusted environment for sharing. This was seen to improve feelings of low self-esteem and self-worth and build the confidence of people with disabilities. They worked separately with groups of married and unmarried women to better tailor their messaging.

Several other approaches were adopted in the project, including training service providers and the use of mass media.

Our aim is to foster the women’s self-esteem, which, in many cases, is alarmingly low. We strive to empower them by instilling confidence.

Female inclusion champion, Nigeria
Inclusive Futures learning review (PDF)

Inclusion champions