Despite the introduction of the Disability Discrimination Acts in 1995, 2002 and 2005, and subsequent initiatives and support for disabled learners in lifelong learning, little political or managerial attention has focused on disabled staff working, or with the potential to work, in the sector. This was why NIACE established the independent Commission for Disabled Staff in Lifelong Learning in March 2007. This article reports on the evidence found by the Commission of "a systematic failure in public policy" to address the needs and requirements of disabled staff in the sector, to the extent that there is widespread institutional discrimination, despite some beacons of good practice. While stressing the importance of providing "reasonable adjustments" to meet the needs of disabled staff, the Commission called on lifelong learning organisations to take the next transformational step towards meeting their "anticipatory duty" to ensure that inclusion is automatic for disabled (and indeed all) staff, learners and students. The author contends that the sector must change if it is to credibly claim to take disability equality seriously.