Dr Deborah Lawson

Multi-award-winning Disability Advocate Dr Deborah Lawson is a wheelchair user with multiple severe and painful disabilities who has spent over two decades creating a more accessible and inclusive society. Her significant, wide-reaching, and long-standing contributions to EDI have improved the lives of hundreds of thousands of disabled people nationwide. Deborah’s impact spans healthcare, retail, fashion, housing, community, disabled rights, policy reform, accessibility improvements, transforming attitudinal barriers, peer support, disability awareness training and resources, and promoting inclusion through children’s literature.

Regularly featuring in the media as a ‘trailblazer,’ an ‘extraordinary woman who has done amazing things,’ and a ‘kind, strong, exceptional role model,’ Deborah’s dedication and impact have earned her many national and global awards.

Deborah has advocated for thousands of disabled people and their families. She’s transformed thousands of buildings, organisations, and events nationwide, enhancing accessibility and facilities for countless individuals. She’s tackled attitudinal barriers through comprehensive training programs in over 600 large stores. As a former stylist who worked with world-renowned photographers, her accessible fashion guidance is used in over 500 major stores, and she provided in-depth resources to thousands more, ensuring widespread adoption.

She’s a member of the Regional Stakeholder Network, reporting to the government on policies affecting disabled people. Deborah is also a judge for national and global awards and serves on various panels, including the Housing Ombudsman. She has spoken at official local government events, on the BBC and to audiences of over 1500.

Deborah closely works with local government on all aspects of disability awareness. She also chairs a council advisory group, improving accessibility for thousands of disabled residents, focusing on reviewing consultations and policies, enhancing council services and communications, increasing disability awareness, creating guides, and making events, transport, businesses, and outdoor spaces more accessible.

Thousands of businesses utilise her resources and reports, and the council has distributed Deborah’s disability awareness guide to over 12,000 households. She’s also released a children’s book promoting inclusion called ‘Damson’s Friendship Wish.’

Deborah collaborates with Oxford University’s Centre for Research Equity, addressing health inequalities through more inclusive practices, and serves on its Governance Board. She’s a member of the Trial Steering Committee for the largest worldwide COVID-19 therapeutics trial and a committee member and co-applicant for a major study seeking treatments for individuals at risk of respiratory illness, aiming to improve health outcomes for thousands of disabled individuals.