Ley
Pathing New Paths

I’m Ley, a 45-year-old person with physical disabilities, neurodivergence, and chronic illness.  

I joined Bupa after being self-employed for many years. I couldn’t keep up with the physicality anymore and needed to be able to work from home in a role with a set finishing time. 

Now I work in Bupa’s customer services support team. The recruitment & onboarding team listened to my accommodation needs as a neurodivergent person, and the interviewers worked to make me comfortable while still remaining fair to all candidates. 

Trainers and managers adapted to my accommodation needs and listened when I found things difficult. They changed or re-communicated anything I struggled to comprehend. I underwent an occupational health assessment and DSE assessment. This led to various equipment being identified as needed. Bupa supplied it quickly and without hesitation. The occupational health assessment also identified a need for things like an allowance for additional breaks sometimes, which stays in my file and travels with me from manager to manager. Knowing I have this option when I am really struggling is fantastic. 

Within my role, there have been times where further needs have been identified due to the worsening of particular disabilities. Each time, my manager has facilitated getting these support needs met through the occupational health process, and again Bupa has supplied further equipment without hesitation. 

Finally, I took up the opportunity to join the Bupa Include mentoring scheme this year, which has been an incredible process. The scheme is aimed at anyone who is in some way marginalised, I believe; it’s been a while since I looked at the criteria. This scheme has been so good for me; it has helped with my confidence, helped open doors and show me opportunities, and encouraged me to take steps to develop myself. 

Bupa has continued its own progression while I have been here, with improvements to accessibility and other areas of inclusion. Yes, there is more that can be done, but I see the effort and the drive there. I was recently offered the opportunity to join the Accessibility Advocacy Forum and see this as an exciting time for Bupa internationally, all coming together to identify changes that can truly make a difference, full of disabled voices, because Bupa is acknowledging that there really should be nothing about us without us.