Dr Mark Carew

Senior Researcher, Leonard Cheshire

Born with cerebral palsy, Mark uses his wide range of knowledge and expertise in disability issues and research methodologies to produce research for Leonard Cheshire. His expertise within the disability sector spans stigma and discrimination, access to healthcare and inclusive education.

Named on last year’s Power 100 List as well, Mark’s career has seen him work with governments and leaders in the disability rights movement all over the world towards a more inclusive society.

Mark provides essential technical guidance to Leonard Cheshire’s projects and partners to help ensure that evidence on disability is as robust as possible, and that the process of collecting this data is fully inclusive.

In his current role, he has supported a number of UK government-funded projects designed to address inequality for people with disabilities around the globe. This includes the Girls’ Education Challenge, which has provided inclusive education to 2,500 girls in the Lakes region of Kenya.

More recently, he has provided ongoing support on data collection methods and analysis on the ‘Innovation to Inclusion’ programme. The project aims to improve employment opportunities in the private sector for people with disabilities in Kenya and Bangladesh. He also played an advisory role in the establishment of the Disability Data Portal, which collates disability data from 40 countries around the world to address the barriers and challenges faced by disabled people.

Mark has experience lecturing at several UK universities and is an honorary research associate at University College London. He has also published several academic articles and book chapters in disability-inclusive development, including the co-authored book Disability and Sexual Health: A Critical Exploration of Key Issues.