I moved to Glasgow for uni in 2018 and completed an MEd in Children’s Literacy with a focus on the representation of disability in classrooms in the UK and as cheesy as it sounds, feel I found my calling during this year!

I’m passionate about combatting the misinformation and stereotypes surrounding disability in our society and empowering people to reach their full potential, which is why I truly love my current role with ENABLE Works as Contracts Manager for our supported employability programmes. I’m very lucky to work for an organisation whose mission lines up with my own personal values and at ENABLE Scotland, equality of opportunity and accessibility is at the heart of everything we do. A massive part of my current role involves working directly with people across Glasgow who have a disability or health condition and taking on board their individual needs, ensuring that myself and my team are working in line with the needs and wants of the people we are supporting.

Advocacy has been a huge part of my life for as long as I can remember as I have type 1 diabetes and have volunteered for both Diabetes UK and Diabetes Scotland since 2017, to combat the stigma and stereotype surrounding type 1 diabetes as well as work towards the organisation’s aim of “a world where diabetes can do no harm”. Through my volunteering I have dedicated my voice, time and energy to partnering with other people, organisations and policies to work towards a world where diabetes is better understood and there is better awareness and education surrounding the condition. The Social Model of Disability is something I refer to on an almost daily basis, a view of the world that was created by people with disabilities highlighting that if society had been set up in a way that considered the accessibility needs of people with disabilities, they would not feel or be excluded or restricted at all. Our world was not created with disabled people in mind and it is up to us now as a society to put measures in place to overcome these barriers and make our environments accessible to everyone. I am passionate about breaking the assumptions and stereotypes that surround disability and ensuring every person with a disability feels seen, represented and supported to live the life they choose, in the way they choose!