Campaigner Celia Chartres-Aris tops the Disability Power 100 list 2024

Celia Chartres-Aris, the multi-award-winning disabled campaigner, lobbyist, investor and policy designer, has taken this year’s top spot in the Shaw Trust Disability Power 100 2024. Noted for her impactful campaigning, Celia was instrumental in getting the post of Secretary of State for Disability reinstated after it was cut by the last government. She has raised awareness of employment discrimination in national articles about her personal experience and lobbied for better laws and greater inclusion to improve equality for disabled people internationally.

Speaking about being a role model for disabled people, Celia says: “We are consistently stereotyped about what we can and cannot do. No. We decide what we can and cannot do, we have strength talent and capability, it is not for others to determine these attributes about ourselves.”

She continues: “I hope that my impact has been one of effective and causal change. Driving forward inclusive law and policy, around the world.”

Celia is joined in the top ten by adaptive fashion designer and campaigner, Victoria Jenkins. Victoria hosted her debut runway show in 2023 and has since won plaudits from Vogue and co-hosted ‘The Unique Boutique for Channel 4. Most recently she has worked with government and Small Business Britain as co-chair of the Lilac Review; looking into support and funding for disabled entrepreneurs.

Victoria hopes her work: “has made people feel seen, that they can dress how they want to with the same freedom as non-disabled people.” She adds: “I am incredibly excited to see this movement grow and inch ever closer to normalising inclusive design and the consumer experience.”

In third place is Robbie Crow; a disability inclusion leader whose work at the BBC has included BBC Extend, the corporation’s project to increase diversity in their workforce. Robbie is a passionate proponent for the social model of disability, which advocates that it is society’s barriers and attitudes, rather than a person’s impairment that is disabling.

Robbie comments: “The biggest advice I can give to disabled people remains ‘be confident in your access needs.’ We know our requirements best and should feel confident to advocate for the support we need.”

Celia, Victoria and Robbie are joined in the top ten by Josh Wintersgill; Ali Jawad PLY; Max Fisher; Lee Keogh; Nick Palfreyman; Marc Brew and Beth Moulam DH, BA (Hons), PLY.

The Disability Power 100 awards are publicly nominated and judged by a panel of 25 disabled champions including international business leader Dr Shani Dhanda, Chief Executive of Paralympics GB, David Clarke OBE and accountancy leader, Professor Elaine Boyd, DL. Each of the 100 individuals celebrated has been recognised for their impact, innovation and influence in changing the perceptions and stereotypes of disability.

National charity, Shaw Trust, runs the Disability Power 100 to raise the profile of disabled talent and challenge the disability employment gap head-on. Head of Disability Power 100, Alona De Havilland, says: “The Disability Power 100 is all about creating change, it celebrates ambition and achievement, and plays a role in challenging society’s perceptions of disability by recognising the strengths, contributions and successes of 100 disabled individuals each year.”

She continues “We all need role models. People who are pioneers and changemakers. This year we witnessed our Team GB Paralympians rightly celebrated for their elite athleticism, sporting prowess and determination to succeed. The Disability Power 100 celebrates disabled roles models with the same determination, expertise and ambition in all sectors from architecture to construction; finance to healthcare; transport to music. It is a rallying cry to future generations of leaders and a call for employers and society to recognise the talents and skills of disabled people.”

Headshot images of the top 10, from left to right: Celia Chartres-Aris, a white female with long dark blonde hair, she is looking straight at the camera with a neutral expression. She is wearing a white jumper pulled off her shoulders, on her chest is a Hickman line running into her chest. Victoria Jenkins a white woman with brown bob cut hair is sat on a red sofa. She is wearing a black shirt. Robbie Crow, a white male with short curly hair, is crouched down in a general office environment. Robbie is wearing a maroon jumper, blue jeans and trainers. In front of Robbie is his guide dog, lying down in harness looking at the camera. Josh Wintersgill, a white man who is touching a stone on the top of a sunny but cold and misty mountain in his black all-terrain wheelchair. Ali Jawad PLY, a man in a wheelchair, proudly holding a silver medal in front of a backdrop featuring various sponsor logos from the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. Max Fisher, a white genderqueer person with green hair, is standing against a white background and smiling. They are wearing hearing aids, glasses with orange tinted lenses, and a beige shirt. Lee Keogh, who has dark hair and beard, in the back against a pride background wearing rainbow stickers. Dr Nick Palfreyman, a tall, white middle-aged man smiling, standing in front of green shrubbery wearing a batik shirt with a diagonal pale-blue-and-black pattern. Marc Brew a man of white complexion, with green eyes and brown facial stubble in front of a grey wall. He has a shaved head wearing a flat cap, black jumper and a scarf around his neck. Beth Moulam, a woman with short dark hair wearing glasses sat in a power wheelchair in a garden. Mounted on the chair in front of the woman is an electronic communication device.