Inclusion in Action: How Brands are Choosing Models with Disabilities in 2026

According to the Family Resources Survey, there were 16.1 million people in the UK living with a disability in the financial year of 2022/23, which represented 24% of the total population.

This demonstrates the scale of how people’s daily lives and those around them are being impacted.

Having a disability doesn’t mean that we ignore people’s rights, which is why inclusivity has been a vital term used in recent years.

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Raising awareness and communication in people with all abilities is key, and putting this into action is a joint effort from everyone on an individual level, through to big corporation scale. So why exactly are brands choosing models with disabilities? Will we be seeing a rise in demand for them in the modelling sector in 2026?

With our modelling agency, Models Direct, we’ve encountered a plethora of modelling assignments landing in our inboxes or desks, calling for disabled models to front a marketing campaign. Industries understand that the marketing landscape needs to reflect the real world and include everyone.

Industries are appealing to this part of the population to project products or services, and include them so that everyone feels recognised and valued.

Models Direct has seen more disabled models get hired by companies for commercial and promotional modelling work, and with great success, over 35 years presents the projects have been unmissable tips, which our expert team has been very proud to be part of curating.

We will walk you through some of our recent and memorable projects where models with disabilities were represented by companies like eFOLDi, award award-winning mobility scooters company, whilst also sharing their feedback.

Business Disability Forum has hired a number of our male and female models for various marketing campaigns, and our models have taken on the job. BTF is a national organisation focused on disability inclusion. They hired our female model, Jeanette, who is hearing impaired. She left this wonderful review about her day on the assignment.

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“First time I went to a modeling shoot with the assignment today. I’m a deaf client can be hard, but still managing really went well without an interpreter. It’s a good experience for me, skilled and enjoyed once in life. It’s such a lovely people. Thank you, Gemma, who contacted me via email and text. There was no barrier.”

Elsewhere in the UK, international humanitarian charity the British Red Cross was looking for a wheelchair user for their latest campaign. They booked our female first-time model, Bridie mid 2025 for an unforgettable photo shoot. It was a meaningful campaign, and our talent had a lot to say about the day:

We’re now moving away from the business and charity sectors and onto a long-standing community interest company, ZoieLogic Dance Theatre. This organisation had the intention of hiring disability inclusive talent and booked our wheelchair model for a men’s mental health campaign. It probably was a bit nerve-racking to begin with for Alex, but his assignment ended on a high note, where he shared his experience with us.

“Positive uplifting experience. Thanks again to Models Direct for my second modelling experience! This time it was for a new men’s mental health campaign called The Big Movement. The team at Zoielogic Dance Theatre was very welcoming, explaining what was going to happen throughout the day. Being a wheelchair user, I was very nervous, but the atmosphere was very positive and uplifting, which gave me the confidence to be part of the shoot.”

Whether our models with disabilities are dancing away for a men’s mental health campaign or raising awareness for a charity, they’re making an impact for this difference in the modelling landscape by capturing attention and igniting a positive change for disability inclusion.

Models Direct is a disability inclusive UK based modelling agency and aims to help our talent of all abilities thrive in the industry, since one in four people experience any long-term physical and mental condition. Our mission is to remove ableism by challenging it and creating a disability friendly culture. Clients are also recognising this, which is why they’re leading with representation of disabled people.

Serving this community is essential due to the large scale and need for representation spanning diverse ranges and identities.

And now it’s over to you.

If you’d like to try something new and be part of meaningful campaigns that are making a difference and raising awareness, or you’d like to promote products and services, then you’re at the right place. Models Direct is the agency that will help you get noticed and put you forward for modelling assignments whenever a client calls for your look. From TfL to BMW, we have had clients at all stages of their own industry journey, looking to hire everyday, regular people.  

Although we cannot guarantee work as it is ultimately down to what our clients need and request, we do promise that our hardworking team will be behind pushing your portfolio as much as we can, so that clients sit up and see you.

If you want to take the next step, then all you have to do is fill in our online application form, provide a snapshot of yourself, and then click the send button. You can then expect a phone call from one of our dedicated modelling coordinators [expect this call to be a lengthy one as we’ll dive into what we do, what you can expect from us, and us to you]. After that, you’ll go through our onboarding process and be added to our books, where we’ll be keeping a close eye on you and any briefs that come through that match your look.

Ready to travel and meet some clients? If you’re unsure, stay in the loop on our socials and with our blogs. You can always contact us directly and even visit our Norwich HQ to meet us. We’re looking forward to having you on board.