Amelia Peckham

Following a life changing quad bike accident and consequent spinal injury in 2005, I became partially paralysed and permanently reliant on mobility aids. When I had my accident I had little to no experience or understanding of disability, I was 19 and went from no idea to adjusting to it and learning often the hard way, the reality it brings.

From very early on I was struck by the barriers, stigmas & assumptions disability brings and felt almost instantly compelled to help change them. 6 months after my accident I was given a pair of hospital crutches & the chance to learn to walk again, sadly the crutches gave me severe hand blisters, infections and put me back on bed rest. At this point the doctors advised I get a wheelchair, get my head round it & get on with it. I was excited to regain my independence and look for a new wheelchair and it was only when my mum questioned this, I thought twice. If my hands were the only part of my body not impacted by my spinal injury, how were they going to be the reason I wouldn’t walk? Suddenly we realised there was a whole community of people like me who weren’t being given options, they were being given the easiest, cheapest option and left to muddle through. It was then we tried to find better crutches and realised there was a huge gap in the market and a vast number of people, like me, who we could help.

In September 2006, Cool Crutches was born, our crutches (& now walking sticks & children’s crutches) tackle a number of problems which until this point, had been largely ignored. They won’t give you blisters, they won’t click, the won’t slip, snap & are unavailable in hospital grey. The reality was by giving people safe, comfortable & functional walking aids that didn’t compromise on style, we were giving people back their independence & confidence.

The response we so incredible, it made me desperate to do more. In 2021, following the birth of my second child, the company I was working for went into administration and I realised I had very little opportunity when it came to employment. Juggling my disability, children and work, wasn’t going to work.

It was then I decided to take our business on full time & do as much as I possibly could to support the disabled community. So that the next generation would see it, value it and include it.

My work has developed from running our business to working with a number of organisations & initiatives to promote disability in its true form. Our products changed my life and so many others, but our business has done too. Having my own business allows me to work effectively & flexibly which has led to phenomenal success. Entrepreneurship and disability are a perfect match and helping more of our community be able to run their own businesses or find work with people who understand this, has fast become my passion & mission.

From working with Small Business Britain & the UK government on The Lilac Review in their mission to support disabled entrepreneurs, to speaking at a number of events with brands such a Lloyds, The British Library and more, I have dedicated my work to expanding opportunities for disabled people when it comes to work.

Over the last 3 years I have also grown Cool Crutches from an online community of 2000 to over 100,000 and most recently was awarded a grant from the Stelios Foundation for disabled entrepreneurs.

I believe my work is only just beginning and cannot wait to see where the next year takes me!