Co-design is an increasingly prominent method for achieving disability inclusive research but the rise in its popularity has created challenges such as inconsistent definitions, misaligned practices, and inadequate reporting. In this article the authors argue safeguarding the future of disability inclusive co-design requires a systemic shift towards accountability and transparency. 

Key recommendations

• Establish a shared language that distinguishes levels of participation, clarifies epistemic assumptions, and articulates underlying values.
• Build capacity and capability for researchers and people with lived experience of disability.
• Develop a co-design-specific reporting framework to make relational, procedural, and decision-making processes more transparent.
• Mandate better reporting of co-design practices by funders, journal editors, and institutions to ensure accountability and reportable rigour of co-design research with people with disability.

The article concludes adopting these recommendations is vital to safeguard the integrity of the co-design method and support more accountable, authentic, and impactful research that truly reflects the voices, priorities, and lived experiences of collaborators with disability.