Hannah Deakin

she/her
Finance Administrator, Ambassador for White Lodge and Purple Tuesday, Blogger, Disability Campaigner

Award category:

Cross-Sector Advocate

Hannah works part-time as a Finance Administrator at Belron International Ltd. She has recently co-founded the Disability Equality Network (DEN) at work. She has raised awareness by speaking in front of the whole company on IDPWD and shared her life story, particularly raising awareness of grief and disability to the finance and legal department. Hannah has also passed three ACCA exams as she strives to become a Chartered Accountant.

Hannah continues to write her blog ‘Hannah’s Hope’, raising awareness, changing perceptions and promoting equity. This is something she feels passionate about. Recently, she has also begun sharing videos showing accessible places to visit.

Hannah has spoken on Good Morning Britain, ITV and Channel 4 news and the Guardian podcast on the cost of living crisis and the government PIP proposals. As well as featuring in many news articles. She has spoken at Surrey Coalition of Disabled People and Motability Foundation’s AGMs. Hannah is an ambassador for White Lodge and Purple Tuesday. She has had many speaking engagements with her ambassador role, and been a guest speaker at Leonard Cheshire Change 100 graduation and others. She has featured on the Piccadilly Circus lights for Purple Tuesday and has been in several Motability Foundation videos.

Hannah believes disabled people should have the same access and opportunities as non-disabled people. Enabling them to be able to live their lives to the full. This is what motivates her to continue her work.

I am thrilled to be on the Disability Power 100 2024. I hope I can use it as further leverage to make a bigger difference.

Q&A

Hannah Deakin
You will probably come up against obstacles in your career journey, but don’t be disheartened you can succeed.
Hannah’s work has raised awareness and understanding of disability at her work, in the community, online and on the TV. As well as speaking up and being a voice for disabled people on difficult issues the community face or have faced.
Hannah’s goals are to chair and grow the Disability Equality Network at work. To become a Chartered Accountant. To continue her blog, help disabled people feel less alone and society understand disability better. For disabled people to have equal opportunities and life.
I am always on the go or sleeping, exhausted. Very occasionally, I switch off with a bit of TV!
My family, friends and godchildren bring me joy. Also chocolate, and the feeling I have made a difference.
Cats
The way disabled people are often treated as less important.
Some of the things that still need to be addressed are: equal pay (disability pay gap), non-disabled people having better understanding of disability, equal opportunities eg more accessible housing, less stigma around disability unemployment benefits, better wheelchair and adaptations provision.
Hannah, a white young woman sitting in her powerchair in her garden speaking to a newsreporter. In the bottom left hand side of the photo the words 'Hannah Deakin Disability Campaigner' in white writing with a Purple background.

Areas of expertise

Accessibility, Cross Sector, Disability Advocacy, Employment, Equality, Finance, Social Media influencing

Disability Power 100 profile information is self-submitted by the profile subject. Shaw Trust understands and respects that disability and impairment descriptors and language use varies from person to person. Shaw Trust assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or discrepancies in the content of this, or any other, profile page.

Image credits: Channel 4 news- a screenshot of the Channel 4 news clip.
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