Breaking the Rules of Inclusion
When Sinéad Burke speaks about inclusion, she centers a simple, profound idea: including disabled people is a fundamental human right. The Irish activist and founder of Tilting the Lens has spent years reframing what it means to participate in fashion, culture, and everyday life. Her mission isn’t merely to add people with disabilities to existing spaces; it is to redesign those spaces so they welcome varied bodies and experiences from the ground up.
From Activism to Industry Influence
Burke rose to prominence by challenging mainstream fashion norms, but her work extends far beyond runway critique. By creating Tilting the Lens, she has provided a platform for disabled creators, models, and designers to tell their own stories. This shift matters because representation is not a box to be checked; it shapes perceptions, reduces stigma, and opens doors to opportunities that were historically closed.
Fashion as a Vehicle for Change
Fashion is often seen as a mirror of society, yet it can also be a powerful agent for progress. Burke argues that fashion can be intentionally inclusive—designs that consider accessibility, sensory needs, and varied physical experiences. This means more than adaptive clothing; it means rethinking show formats, fit models, and retail environments so everyone can participate fully. Her stance aligns with a growing movement that treats inclusion as a design problem, not a marketing afterthought.
Inclusion as a Human Right
Central to Burke’s philosophy is the assertion that inclusion is a human right, not a privilege reserved for a select few. This framing challenges industries to answer a basic question: who gets to belong, and on what terms? For Burke, the answer is clear—systems must be rebuilt around diverse bodies, rather than asking those bodies to adapt to uniform standards. The result is not charity but equity: equal access to opportunities, resources, and recognition.
Practical Steps for Real Change
So what does true inclusion look like in practice? Burke highlights several concrete actions: engaging disabled communities in decision-making, ensuring physical accessibility in stores and events, and presenting a spectrum of voices in media and fashion conversations. It’s about co-creating content, collections, and campaigns with disabled individuals instead of speaking for them. These steps foster environments where people can participate with confidence and dignity.
Impact and Inspiration
Burke’s work has inspired a broader dialogue about how institutions—fashion houses, media outlets, schools, and workplaces—design policies that welcome everyone. The ripple effects extend beyond representation. They influence product development, hiring practices, and the way brands communicate with diverse audiences. When inclusion is embedded in strategy, it transforms not only accessibility but culture—prompting empathy, curiosity, and collaboration.
Looking Ahead
As Tilting the Lens continues to grow, the conversations around inclusive design and disability rights gain momentum. Burke’s leadership demonstrates that inclusion is not a trend but a enduring principle. The question for creators, retailers, and policymakers remains: how will you ensure disabled people are not merely present, but empowered to lead, contribute, and innovate?
Ultimately, Sinéad Burke’s message is unequivocal: including disabled people is their human right, and it is time for industries to align with that reality, reshaping experiences so everyone can belong.
