QDEG started in 2008 in response to a concern of West Scotland Area Meeting, which arose in turn from pioneering work in the 1990s and several Woodbrooke gatherings.
QDEG seeks to ensure that Britain Yearly Meeting meets its responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010.
We became a Listed Informal Body in 2008 and subsequently a Quaker Recognised Body.
We work towards the full inclusion of disabled people within the life of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers).
We do this by:
- Encouraging disabled Friends to take up roles throughout the Society
- Providing a visible presence at Yearly Meeting, online and in person (e.g. as doorkeepers, microphone stewards, pastoral care team etc)
- Providing information about accessibility and working with others to ensure that knowledge is disseminated through the Society
- Running courses in partnership with Woodbrooke
- Supporting disabled Friends through an email network, Facebook discussion group
- Online meetings (e.g. by Zoom, Teams etc)
- Being represented within other interest groups, e.g. Quaker Voices on Mental Health
- Networking with other groups of disabled people within other religious organisations
- Helping each other to flourish