Shaw Trust announce Disability Power 100 list

Shaw Trust have announced their Disability Power 100 list which highlights and champions the work of the top 100 disabled influencers in the country, as nominated by the public.

The list celebrates and recognises 100 successful and influential disabled people who are role models for all of us to aspire to.

The finalists are chosen by a panel of judges who donate their time to go through hundreds of nominations made by the public.

Ciara Lawrence among top 10 shortlisted 

Ciara Lawrence, who has a learning disability, was among the top 10 to be nominated this year. Ciara has worked for Mencap for 20 years and is currently working in the Transformation Team as a Big Plan Engagement lead. Ciara ensures that people with a learning disability have a voice and are included in Mencap’s new strategy (The New Big Plan).

Ciara is also a volunteer and Trustee Board Member for Sunnybank Trust (a charity for adults who have a learning disability), a Trustee for Head 2 Head sensory theatre, and a patron for Dance Syndrome. She is also an ambassador for Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust and a Get Lippy campaign Ambassador for the gynaecological cancer awareness charity The Eve Appeal.

Ciara is also passionate about challenging negative views and perceptions about people with a learning disability, which she does through her Pink Sparkle podcast which she started during the pandemic.

Shaw Trust hope the list will change public perception of disability

The other top 10 finalists this year were:

1. The Valuable 500 for their work towards ensuring businesses are committed to disability inclusion.
2. Shani Dhanda for her tireless campaigning for intersectional activism, inspired by the barriers she has and continues to face as a South Asian woman.
3. Cerrie Burnell for challenging stereotypes and overcoming discrimination to become one of the most visible disabled presenters on children’s TV.
4. Dr Amy Kavanagh for raising awareness about a variety of disability issues, including accessible gaming, disability hate crime, digital inclusion, public transport and disabled women’s rights.
5. Ciara Lawrence for her work towards ensuring people with learning disabilities are included in Mencap’s new strategy (as above).
6. Frances Ryan for bringing issues about disability inequality into mainstream media as a journalist and reporter.
7. Andrew Miller MBE for his championing of disabled creative people and campaigning for greater disability inclusion across the arts, museums and film.
8. Euan MacDonald MBE for his award-winning website which has made it easier for disabled people to find great places to visit.
9. Chris Fry for his pioneering work on disability rights that helps achieve reasonable adjustments for disabled consumers in everyday life.
10. Abbie Breakwell for her work in her local community, advocating for disabled rights and encouraging women to play sports.

Shaw Trust hope the list will change public perception of disability and says it 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.”

To read the full list, head to disabilitypower100.com.