Disability and neurodiversity
At Blake Morgan, we are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone can contribute, thrive and reach their full potential. Our Disability and Neurodiversity workstream focuses on removing barriers, recognising individual strengths and ensuring that colleagues feel supported at every stage of their career.
We recognise that disability and neurodiversity form an important part of the diversity of our workforce and the wider communities we serve. Our approach is centred on creating a workplace where differences are understood, respected and valued, and where practical support enables individuals to perform at their best.
Through awareness activity, targeted initiatives and collaboration with colleagues and external networks, we aim to embed inclusive practices across the firm. This includes supporting individuals with lived experience, adapting ways of working where needed and continuing to evolve our approach based on feedback and insight.
By taking a proactive and inclusive approach, we ensure that disability and neurodiversity are recognised not as barriers, but as strengths that contribute to the success of our people and our business.
Main areas of focus
Together We Can
Together We Can is Blake Morgan’s Disability and Neurodiversity network which is made up of colleagues throughout our office network who has a connection with disability and neurodiversity, whether that is through their own lived experience, connection with a friend or family member or as an ally. The members of our Steering group are open to honest conversations with our colleagues, prospective recruits and clients around new ways to become the best version of a disability and neurodiversity-inclusive law firm.
Accessibility and inclusion
We are committed to removing barriers and ensuring our workplace, processes and culture are inclusive and accessible for colleagues with disabilities and neurodiverse conditions. Our work focuses on creating an environment where everyone can contribute fully and succeed and our people and clients feel supported at all times.
Support and adjustments
We actively support colleagues by developing guidance, using resources such as Access to Work and adapting ways of working where needed. Our aim is to ensure individuals feel valued, supported and able to perform to the best of their abilities.
Awareness and understanding
We promote awareness and understanding through campaigns, events and lived experience insights, helping to build confidence and increase understanding of disability and neurodiversity across the firm.
Key contacts
Melia Hirst | Partner | Disability and Neurodiversity Inclusion Champion
Melia is a Partner in Blake Morgan’s Business Support and Insolvency Team and the firm’s Disability and Neurodiversity Inclusion Champion. Melia leads the development of the workstream and driving forward initiatives to remove barriers and support colleagues with lived experience.
Being part of a firm where every individual feels welcome, supported and able to achieve their career potential runs through the heart of the Disability & Neurodiversity workstream.
I am personally in awe of those who, on a daily basis, overcome the challenges of their own disability or neurodiversity as well as those who care for or live with those affected. Fortunately, increased awareness and representation has meant significant positive change in our community. We have greater awareness and insight into neurodiversity and both visible and non-visible disabilities but of course, there is always more that can be done. Our goal is to ensure that each individual’s needs must be heard and seen.
Olivia Wythes | HR Administrator | Disability and Neurodiversity member
Olivia joined Blake Morgan as an apprentice in 2023 and continued working in the HR team based at the Southampton office.
Olivia completed her first apprenticeship in 2025 and started her second towards the end of 2025. Having started her Level 5 CIPD Olivia got diagnosed with Dyslexia. Olivia has been a part of the workstream since 2024 prior to her finding out about the Dyslexia in her HR capacity but now also an active member from the perspective of someone who is Neurodiverse.
Olivia has written articles and spread awareness as to what it has been like living with dyslexia and the challenges she faced prior to getting her diagnosis. Olivia hopes that being able to share her experiences will show others how you can still achieve the same as your peers regardless.
Jody Nash | HR Business Partner | Disability and Neurodiversity member
Jody has worked in the legal sector for over 20 years and joined Blake Morgan’s HR Team in 2022 as an HR Business Partner.
Being part of the Disability and Neurodiversity workstream enables Jody to contribute to meaningful change within the firm and advocate for the needs of individuals with disabilities and neurodiverse conditions.
In their role, Jody aims to ensure that all individuals can access the support and resources they need and focuses on identifying and implementing reasonable adjustments that empower employees to thrive in their work environment. Jody assists with promoting an atmosphere of acceptance and understanding within Blake Morgan.
Jody has supported the workstream by leading on registering the firm for the Disability Confident Scheme and contributing articles raising awareness for dementia and reasonable adjustments in the workplace.
Rachel Knight (she/her) | Associate | Disability and Neurodiversity member
Rachel is an Associate in Blake Morgan’s Family team and one of the network leads for the firm’s “Together We Can” workstream, alongside her role as EDI representative in the Oxford office.
Rachel is passionate about helping to create a workplace where everyone feels able to be themselves, fulfil their potential and access the support they need to succeed.
Through her involvement with the Together We Can committee, Rachel contributes to initiatives that raise awareness of disability and neurodiversity across the firm, promoting understanding and encourage meaningful conversations.
As a person with hearing loss herself, for Rachel, inclusion is about more than policies and processes – it is about ensuring that everyone feels respected, valued and able to thrive. She is proud to play a part in helping Blake Morgan continue to build a culture where differences are embraced and every colleague has a genuine sense of belonging.
Lyndsay White (she/her) | Associate | Disability and Neurodiversity member
Co-Lead, Together We Can Employee Resource Network and Member of the Disability & Neurodiversity Strategy Group
Lyndsay is an Associate in Blake Morgan’s Regulatory team and is actively involved in the firm’s Together We Can disability and neurodiversity workstream, where she sits on the strategy group and co-leads the employee resource network.
Prior to joining Blake Morgan, Lyndsay worked as a medical negligence solicitor, acting for clients with a wide range of injuries, disabilities and long-term health conditions. That experience gave her valuable insight into some of the barriers that individuals can face in accessing opportunities and support. In addition, several people close to Lyndsay are neurodivergent, giving her a personal appreciation of both the strengths that neurodiversity brings and the challenges that neurodivergent individuals can encounter in education, the workplace and everyday life.
Lyndsay is passionate about helping to create an environment where everyone can thrive and reach their full potential. Through her work with the committee, she contributes to the development of resources, supports workstream initiatives and helps raise awareness of disability and neurodiversity across the firm. She has also been involved in developing ideas such as an “EDI Café” to make learning resources, lived experiences and conversations about inclusion more accessible and engaging for colleagues.
For Lyndsay, meaningful inclusion is about more than policies and processes; it is about creating a culture where people feel understood, valued and empowered to flourish.
Helen Gwinn | Legal Information Manager | Disability and Neurodiversity member
Helen’s commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion is shaped by her personal experiences as a mother, sister and carer. Several of her close family members are disabled and neurodivergent, and she has seen first-hand the challenges they have faced in education, employment and everyday life. She has also witnessed the impact that negative workplace experiences can have when people do not feel understood, supported or valued for who they are.
These experiences have given Helen a strong appreciation of the importance of creating workplaces where people can be themselves, where adjustments are viewed positively and where different ways of thinking and working are recognised as strengths. They have also reinforced her belief that inclusion is not simply about policies and processes; it is about culture, empathy and a willingness to listen and learn.
Through her involvement in Blake Morgan’s EDI initiatives, Helen hopes to help create a workplace where every individual feels respected, supported and able to achieve their full potential, regardless of background, disability or neurodiversity.
Partnerships and resources
Legal Neurodiversity Network – supporting our understanding of neurodiversity within the legal sector and enabling collaboration, shared learning and best practice.
Visit the Legal Neurodiversity Network on LinkedIn.
Disability Confident (Level 1 Employer) – demonstrating our commitment to creating an inclusive and accessible workplace by taking action to attract, recruit and support colleagues with disabilities.
Visit the Disability Confident website.
Access to Work (UK Government Scheme) – helping us to access practical advice and funding support to implement workplace adjustments that enable individuals to perform at their best.
Visit the Disability Rights UK Access to Work website.
