About

I'm a disability, access and inclusion consultant. I work with employers, and with the organisations that serve the public, from councils, charities and care providers to transport operators and regulators.

I've run policy, governance and operations in charities and a membership body, and I'm a disabled, LGBTQ+ professional who knows what happens when systems are designed without you in mind. Most of my work is on the gap between what an organisation says about disability and what people meet when they use it, and that's what I write and speak about too. I live in London.

Portrait of Hugh O'Keeffe

Hugh O'Keeffe

London, UK

Why the asterisk, and why The Small Print

The asterisk

An asterisk marks a footnote, the line at the bottom of the page where the conditions, exceptions and small details live. In disability and access, that detail is usually where things go right or wrong for the person on the other end. My writing is called The Asterisk because I want to bring that detail up to the headline, where the people making decisions will read it. The asterisk runs through this site for the same reason.

Read The Asterisk

The Small Print

The small print is the part of a document most people skip, even though it often decides what happens. Each session of The Small Print takes one everyday moment, like a request for a different chair or a colleague mentioning a diagnosis, and works through the detail that decides how it goes. Sessions are free, monthly and open to anyone who has to handle these moments.

See the next session

Roles

Roles, most recent first
RoleOrganisationYearsFocus
Disability, Access and Inclusion Consultant Self-employed 2026 to present Training, policy reviews and accessibility audits for employers and services the public uses.
Inclusion Lead Onvero (opens in new tab) 2023 to 2026 Workforce policy, governance and strategy for a membership body of 400+ organisations.
Operations Director Tonic Housing (opens in new tab) 2022 to 2023 Launching the UK's first LGBTQ+ retirement community.
Assistant Director Mosaic Trust (opens in new tab) 2019 to 2022 Operational strategy, safeguarding and LGBTQ+ youth engagement.

Advisory and boards

Recognition

Queer Leadership Award

Policy and Advocacy Impact, We Create Space, 2025

Speaking

Speaker and facilitator on disability and access at work, inclusive language and LGBTQ+ inclusion.

Writing for other publications

These pieces were written for employers and partners, who hold the copyright, so the links go to the original sites.