Deborah and Disability Awareness Part 1 [Video]

As a multi-award-winning Disability Advocate, Deborah’s pioneering efforts to create a more accessible and inclusive society over the past 24+ years have made a significant impact across the UK. Her influence is wide-reaching, and she’s made a major and outstanding contribution to the field of disability. Since her teens, Deborah has played a leading role across the UK in advancing Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and her work and impact spans healthcare, retail, fashion, community, disabled rights, policy
changes, accessibility, transforming attitudinal barriers, and peer support. She’s successfully influenced sector leaders, professors, managers, head offices, businesses, government, communities, and councils. Over the last two decades, she’s improved the lives of hundreds of thousands of disabled people. She’s a powered-wheelchair user with multiple severe disabilities, in daily debilitating pain. Yet despite this, Deborah has been featured in the media internationally, nationally and locally as a ‘trailblazer,’ a ‘phenomenal woman,’ an ‘extraordinary woman who has done amazing things,’ and a ‘kind, strong, exceptional role model.’ Due to her outstanding impact in her field, she’s won many awards, with even Prime Minister Rishi Sunak recognising her for her ‘exceptional work.’ She is widely respected by her peers and recognised as one of the most influential changemakers in the UK.
Over more than two decades, Deborah has transformed thousands of buildings, organisations and events, greatly improving the accessibility for tens of thousands of disabled people. She’s tackled attitudinal barriers through a comprehensive training program used in over 600 large stores, benefiting thousands of disabled individuals. It addressed attitudinal barriers, promotes disability awareness, and creates an inclusive workplace culture benefiting not only disabled customers but also disabled employees.
As a former stylist and makeup artist, Deborah also pioneered early efforts for greater diversity, particularly in accessible fashion. Her tailor-made accessible fashion guidance, implemented in over 500 major stores during personal shopping appointments, introduced the idea of accessible fashion to the high street, making clothes more accessible for thousands of disabled people.

Vic Brown’s show, People Make a Difference highlights people in our community that make a difference, so please enjoy this episode of the show with this amazing lady who has helped to make things so much easier for people with disabilities.