Diversity empowers us to enable a profession where everyone can thrive, this is beneficial for staff and service users in terms of creativity, innovation, and differing perspectives to improve working environments and provide better outcomes for everyone.
BAPO has created some digital member badges to showcase and celebrate the diversity of our profession. These are available in the member badges section once you have logged in, you can find the tab at the top of the page. If you are interested in becoming a member please contact enquiries@bapo.com
The members badges represent all our members including support workers, technicians, prosthetists, orthotists, students and apprentices.
This badge represents our members from the LGBTQ+ community, it incorporates the most recent progress pride flag, and the added elements emphasise inclusion within the LGBTQ+ community and the ongoing struggle for equality. The flag highlights marginalised groups within the LGBTQ+ community, particularly the transgender community, and those from ethnically minoritised groups, and reiterates the importance of progress in the fight for equal rig hts for all members of the LGBTQ+ community.
This badge celebrates the neurodiversity of our members and service users, the infinity symbol represents the infinite spectrum of neurological differences and symbolises unity and connection within the neurodiverse community, highlighting the importance of inclusivity and acceptance. It also draws attention to the infinite potential of each person and advocates the need to approach people, attitudes, and tasks with more open-mindedness and creativity.
This badge represents our ethnically diverse membership base, including our international staff and students. Ethnic diversity includes different ethnic groups encompassing a wide range of cultural, linguistic, racial, and national backgrounds. BAPO recognises the benefits of multiculturalism in our profession and how this contributes to the richness of our society more broadly.
This badge represents the Disabled members of our profession including Disabled staff and learners. We understand the importance of inclusive environments and encourage our employment and education sectors to embed the social model of disability, where it is everyone’s responsibility to remove barriers and champion equity for Disabled people. This badge includes the colours from the overcoming flag, designed for the UN by Eros Recio, a professional ballet dancer who has Down syndrome. The colours reference those of the paralympic medals symbolising the overcoming of challenges, the three colours also represent physical, mental, and sensory disabilities including neurodiverse conditions.
This members badge represents all our members including support workers, technicians, prosthetists, orthotists, students and apprentices