The Shaw Trust has unveiled this year’s Disability Power 100 list to celebrate the most influential disabled people and disability organisations in the UK.
This annual publication highlights and champions the work of the top 100 disabled influencers in the country, as nominated by the public. Over the years, Shaw Trust has encouraged businesses, employers and other organisations to reflect on opportunities available for disabled people. The list plays a vital role in providing much needed encouragement to the young and talented leaders of tomorrow, allowing them to see that aspiration and ambition can be fulfilled regardless of disability or impairment.
INFLUENTIAL ROLE MODELS
Even though a fifth of the UK’s population has a disability or impairment, there is little recognition of the many successful and influential disabled people who are role models for all of us. Shaw Trust wants to change the public perception of disability, and recognise strong, successful, influential people who are leaders in their field. The Disability Power 100 recognises and amplifies the successes of the finalists; with the goal of encouraging talented leaders of tomorrow through their example to achieve their full potential, regardless of disability or impairment.
“I congratulate each of our finalists, who come from a richly diverse range of sectors, all with different lived experience and backgrounds. This year, thanks to excellent feedback from last year’s event, we have included the new Community Action and Rising Stars categories. Thank you for all the work you do!” stated Shaw Trust CEO Chris Luck. “Every year our Disability Power 100 reaches and influences more people, but we know there is still much to do to create a fairer and inclusive society. The Disability Power 100 focuses on ability, not disability, by promoting and recognising outstanding achievement. We hope the finalists will influence and advocate for a future where accessibility is the norm, not the exception; and as role models give confidence and guidance to those beginning or on their own journey.”
TOP 10 INFLUENTIAL DISABLED PEOPLE
More than 550 nominations were received for the 100 spaces with The Valuable 500 ranking top of the list. This is the first time in the history of the Disability Power 100 that an organisation has won the top spot. The non-profit was founded in 2019 by Caroline Casey. “This isn’t about an award, this is a well done for not giving up, well done for battling through,” stated Casey. This is the community saying thank you for trying; you are on the right track; thank you for stretching yourself.”
The Valuable 500 exists to support and empower its 500 strong collective to systematically transform their businesses, so that they include the 1.3 billion people living with disabilities worldwide; thereby unlocking their business, social and economic potential.
The top 10 most influential disabled people in the Disability Power 100 list also includes:
- Shani Dhanda, Social Entrepreneur and Disability Specialist
- Cerrie Burnell, Author, Actor, Activist. Disability Ambassador for the BBC
- Dr Amy Kavanagh, Freelancer and Disability consultant
- Ciara Lawrence, Big Plan Engagement Lead, Mencap
- Frances Ryan, Guardian columnist and author
- Andrew Miller MBE, Cultural Leader and Broadcaster
- Euan MacDonald MBE, Co-founder of Euan’s Guide
- Chris Fry, Solicitor
- Abbie Breakwell, Athlete – Wheelchair Tennis Player
THE DISABILITY POWER 100
Organised by category, this year’s Disability Power 100 includes:
Education, Public and Third Sector
- Vidyamala Burch, mindfulness teacher, author and Founder of Breathworks
- Sarah Rennie, Consultant and Campaigner
- Richard Keagan-Bull, Research Assistant
- Pauline Castres, Policy Manager, on major advocacy projects – for UN agencies, the British Medical Journal, The Lancet and several health charities
- Niall El-Assaad, Founder of fuelService
- Professor Martin Paul Eve, Professor of Literature, Technology and Publishing, Birkbeck, University of London.
- Mark Webb, Public Speaker, Head of Comms, for Shift.ms
- Mark Blois, Partner & Head of Education, Browne Jacobson
- Kirsteen Allison, Equality and diversity advocate
- Kelly Louise Given, Workforce Coordinator, NHS Lothian Headquarters
- Joshua Gardner, Communications Manager, NHS
- Jordan Allan, Service Quality Director, Thera Scotland
- Jane Hatton, CEO, Evenbreak
- Dr Halima Begum, Chief Executive, Runnymede Trust,
- Grant Logan, Founder, Ability Today
- Dr Amy Bonsall, Founder and Director of the Women in Academia Support Network #WIASN, Academic and Theatre Director, Co Artistic Director
- Cristina Serrao, Lived Experience Ambassador, Experience of Care, NHS England and Improvement
- Asif Iqbal MBE, President of the Harrow and Brent United Deaf Club, Ambassador for the Government Equalities Office, Chair of Hearing Loss Professionals UK Network
- Amo Raju, CEO, Disability Direct
- Alan Benson, Activist & Campaigner
Politics and law
- Sean Fitzsimons, Public Servant & Disability Rights Activist
- Dr Gregory Burke, Employment & Discrimination Barrister, Founder and Chair of AccessAble.co.uk
- HHJ Fayyaz Afzal CBE, Circuit judge
- Cat Gillett, Founder of PIPPS Social Enterprise, Senior Lawyer, Arts, Fashion and Design
- Laura Beattie, Co-Founder and Director of Careaux; Co-founder of The Inclusive Viewpoint; Founder of This is Visibility
- Samanta Bullock, Founder of SB Shop
- Jenny Sealey, Artistic Director / CEO, Graeae
- Amy Francis-Smith RIBA, Vice President Birmingham Architectural Association & Architect RIBA ARB, Pinnegar Hayward Design
- Alfie Bowen, Artist, Author, Activist
- Robert Stevens, Professor of Computer Science and Head of Department at the University of Manchester
- Marrianne Rooprai, Co-Founder of the Rooprai Spinal Trust
Sport
- Oliver Lam-Watson, Athlete, Disabled Youtuber, Photographer, and Wheelchair fencer
- Isaac Harvey, Video editor, peer facilitator for people with disabilities and mental health conditions and President of Wheels and Wheelchairs.
- Ben Clark, Adapted Fitness Ambassador, CEO, Adapt to Perform
- Jack Littlejohns, Captain of the men’s first team at Barnstaple Ability Football Club
- John Churcher, Deafblind adventurer
- Gemma Lumsdaine, Athlete, coach, disability sport advocate
- James Sutliff, Disability Specialist Fitness Coach & Personal Trainer
Business, Finance and IT
- Suzie Miller, Senior Cloud Solutions Architect, Microsoft
- Dr Stephen Duckworth OBE, Non-Executive Director and Trustee
- Natalie Hiller, Accountant and Co-Chair of Disability Awareness Network at PwC
- Mike Adams OBE, Chief Executive Officer, Purple
- Michael Vermeersch, Digital Inclusion Lead, Microsoft
- Julian John, Managing Director, Delsion
- Helen Cooke, CEO & Founder, MyPlus,
- Fuchsia Carter, Candidate Care Consultant, HSBC
- Emily Rose Yates, Accessibility Consultant and Journalist
- Tom Jamison, Editor of Able Magazine
- Sam Tatlow, Creative Diversity Partner, ITV
- Ruby Rousson, Online Content Creator
- Rachel Charlton-Dailey, Freelance journalist and founder and Editor-in-chief of The Unwritten
- Pippa Stacey, Writer, Blogger and Communications Consultant
- Mik Scarlet, Broadcaster, Journalist, Producer, Access & Inclusion Expert
- Martyn Sibley, Co-founder, Disability Horizons
- Jessica Kellgren-Fozard, YouTuber and Content Creator
- Hannah Deakin, Finance Administrator at Belron, Blogger, Ambassador and Disability campaigner
- Georgina Layton, Disabled Travel and Inclusive Wedding Blogger
- Frank Gardener OBE, BBC Security Correspondent
- Ed Jackson, Broadcaster/Charity Founder
- Deborah Williams, Executive Director, Creative Diversity Network
- Carrie-Ann Lightley, Head of Marketing, AccessAble
- Andrew Hayward, Accessibility Engineer and Disability Advocate
- Dr. Amit Patel, Author, broadcaster, DEI consultant, motivational speaker, disability rights campaigner and charity trustee for Vision Foundation
- Ally Castle, Creative Diversity & Disability Lead at Channel 4
Entertainment
- Briony May Williams, TV Presenter
- Amy Conachan, Actress
- Daniel M. Jones, Social Media influencer, Author
- Jamie Hale, Artistic Director, Poet, and Theatre practitioner
- Kim Tserkezie, Actor, Producer, Writer, Presenter, MD of Scattered Pictures
- Michèle Taylor, Director for Change, Facilitator, Coach, Trainer, Consultant
- Keely Cat-Wells, CEO of C Talent
Community Action
- Stephen Brookes MBE, Rail Policy Adviser
- Simon Sansome, Journalist, TV Writer, Producer, Podcaster, Disability Campaigner
- Samantha Renke, Disability spokesperson, journalist and media influencer
- Matt Hampson OBE, Founder, The Matt Hampson Foundation
- Linda Bamford, National Convener, Ambassador, Commissioner, Equality Adviser
- Kat Williams, Director, Autistic UK
- Karen Cooper, Head of Stakeholders, Blackpool Transport
- Jon Attenborough, Disability Awareness Campaigner
- Harrie Larrington-Spencer, Healthy Active Cities Researcher
- Ellie Simpson, Founder of CP Teens UK & GB Frame Running Athlete
- Dr Elizabeth Ferris BEM, Foundation Doctor, NHS Tayside
- Dr Cor Hutton, Founder of Finding Your Feet, public speaker and campaigner
- Anna-Ruth Cockerham, Director of Wellbeing, St Andrews Students’ Association
- Andrew Baker MBE, Founder and CEO, Play2Give
- Wouldn’t Change A Thing
- Disabled Students UK
- Disability Rights UK
- ADKC Access Group
- Euan’s Guide
Click here for more information.
The Recruitment Industry Disability Initiative (RIDI) Awards also revealed 2021’s finalists recently, after another record year of entries. Click here to check out the winners.
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