Elephant In The Room

Disability Services & Inclusive Arts Consultancy

Image Description: Dan is presenting a talk at Hull University Student Union. He is wearing a black tshirt, trousers and boots. On the screen is slide from his talk called "Falling over and picking yourself up."

ABOUT

There is an “elephant in the room” in many cultural spaces—the unspoken barriers that prevent full participation for Deaf, disabled, and neurodivergent individuals. Elephant in The Room Disability Services, founded by Daniel Watts, is dismantling these barriers through direct action, consultancy, and training.Operating out of Hull but serving a wider remit, the organisation challenges the status quo of “tick-box” accessibility. “Why should anyone miss out on account of their perceived differences?” is the core question driving their work.

The service offers a distinct approach to advocacy and support, moving away from rigid bureaucratic models toward bespoke, person-centred planning.By providing tailored advocacy, access audits, and a strong focus on the Arts, the organisation ensures that inclusion is not a favour, but a fundamental right designed into the fabric of everyday spaces.

WHO IS DAN AND WHY?

I was born Deaf, just like my sister. Growing up, our parents gave us the greatest gift a child could receive: love, independence, and unwavering support.

But as I grew older, I encountered a world that wasn’t built with that same support in mind. Over the years, I found myself missing out on amazing quizzes, concerts, theatre productions, and everyday cultural experiences. I realised this simply wasn’t good enough. Why should I, or anyone else, miss out on the things we love because of environmental and societal barriers?

I saw that too many venues and events were fundamentally inaccessible—operating in a way that was exclusive rather than inclusive. It was the ‘elephant in the room’ that nobody wanted to talk about or deal with constructively.

That frustration became my catalyst. I founded Elephant in the Room Disability Services to provide expert accessibility consultancy and training. My goal is to work alongside organisations to dismantle these barriers, because arts, culture, and music can—and must—be genuinely inclusive. We can create a profound, long-lasting difference, because inclusion isn’t about inviting someone into a space; it’s about rebuilding the space so everyone belongs by default.

SERVICES

Bespoke support designed to remove barriers and foster genuine inclusion

BSL Performance Interpreters

We specialise in sourcing and coordinating British Sign Language (BSL) Performance Interpreters for theatres, festivals, and music events, ensuring the Deaf community has equal, artistic access to culture.

Training & Consultancy

Helping organisations move beyond legal compliance. We offer disability awareness training and workshops designed to de-stigmatize differences in schools, businesses, and venues.

Access Audits

Detailed, practical evaluations of physical venues and digital services to identify barriers and provide actionable strategies to improve accessibility for all users.

Talks

We deliver thought provoking talks about Disability, Communication and Equality.
We use real life environments to show how a situation can disable anyone and how the Social Model of Disability can apply to everyone.

Community

Much of the work we do takes a humanist approach, ensuring the communities have a voice so we can work together with venues/organisations to create a change where access is not an afterthought. We also provide a voice for venues and organisations too.

LET'S WORK TOGETHER

Whether you are an arts venue looking to improve access, an organisation needing training, or an individual seeking advocacy, we are here to help. Reach out to discuss how we can support you.

  • Email us: info@elephantinclusion.co.uk
  • Text message: 07753 380339