Introduction: A Bold Reframe on Inclusion
When Sinéad Burke speaks about inclusion, she does more than urge empathy; she reframes the very architecture of fashion, media, and public life. Burke, a celebrated disability activist and the founder and CEO of Tilting the Lens, has spent years urging inclusive design and storytelling that centers disabled people as full participants—not merely as subjects of pity or inspiration. In a recent interview with journalist Gemma Fullam, Burke expands on why inclusion is not optional but a basic human right—and how this conviction is reshaping a powerful sector: fashion.
Tilting the Lens: A Platform for Change
Tilting the Lens began as a creative project to diversify fashion narratives. Burke has consistently argued that representation matters as a catalyst for real-world change. By elevating disabled voices and collaborating with designers, photographers, and writers who share a commitment to accessibility, Tilting the Lens challenges the industry’s traditional beauty standards. Burke’s approach is not about tokenism; it’s about building a new vocabulary where disability is ordinary, visible, and celebrated.
Why Inclusion is a Human Right
Central to Burke’s message is the insistence that inclusion is inseparable from human rights. If public spaces, workplaces, media, and cultural institutions fail to accommodate diverse needs, they fail to respect the inherent dignity of all people. Burke argues that accessibility is not a charitable gesture but a civil entitlement—an obligation for societies to enable participation in everyday life. This reframing shifts the conversation from accommodation as burden to inclusion as empowerment, opening doors for disabled people to contribute, lead, and shape culture on their own terms.
Practical Steps: From Runway to Reality
What does inclusion look like in practice? Burke provides a practical playbook that many brands are beginning to emulate. First, it starts with listening—engaging with disabled communities to understand barriers and preferences. Second, it involves seamless accessibility in product and content design—from adaptive clothing and durable materials to captions, audio descriptions, and alternative formats in media. Third, it requires long-term partnerships rather than one-off campaigns. By embedding accessibility into product strategy and storytelling, brands can create experiences that are genuinely usable by a wider audience and, in turn, expand their market reach.
The Fashion Industry: A Mirror and a Driver
Fashion has a history of glamour that often overlooks disability. Burke’s work with Tilting the Lens has become a lens through which designers, stylists, and photographers rethink aesthetics. The goal is not to stereotype or sentimentalize but to normalize disabled bodies as part of fashion’s future. This shift benefits everyone: it broadens the creative palette, improves usability in products, and fosters a culture of care that resonates with consumers who crave authenticity and inclusion.
Public Perception and Media Representation
Burke also critiques how media portrays disability. Stereotypes—from inspiration porn to sensationalized hardship narratives—can dull the complexity of disabled lives. By championing nuanced storytelling, Tilting the Lens invites audiences to see the person first—without reducing identity to a single trait. This approach aligns with broader human rights principles: disability is a facet of identity that does not diminish capability or contribution.
Looking Ahead: A Movement, Not a Moment
Beyond fashion, Burke envisions a movement that permeates education, technology, and urban planning. Her advocacy underscores a simple yet powerful truth: enabling disabled people to participate fully is a shared societal project. Each design decision, media choice, or policy reform that prioritizes accessibility nudges society toward a more inclusive equilibrium where human rights are realized in everyday life.
Conclusion: The Ongoing Conversation
Sinéad Burke’s message—that inclusion is a human right—resonates across industries and communities. By leading Tilting the Lens with rigor and compassion, she demonstrates how bold, purposeful inclusion can redefine fashion and culture for the better. The conversation is ongoing, and its trajectory depends on the collective will to redesign systems, retell stories, and reimagine what it means to participate fully in public life.
