Prof, Dr Cathy Holloway

Academic, designer, innovator, hopeful human at Global Disability Innovation Hub, UCL

Science and Engineering

Cathy is a neurodivergent, queer professor at UCL who has developed Disability Interactions: a way of thinking about the design of technology with disabled people which emphasises user-centred design, systems-thinking, and impact measurement. This thinking underpins her work at UCL and was developed whilst she co-founded Global Disability Innovation Hub (GDI Hub).

GDI Hub was founded shortly after Cathy had a breakdown, resulting in the difficult journey of overcoming years of childhood trauma. Cathy’s breakdown made her reassess her previous coping mechanisms and explore the triggers that caused the breakdown. GDI Hub was formed in partnership with two fellow co-directors, and it was this partnership approach that allowed Cathy to grow her leadership skills whilst recovering and understanding her neurodivergent brain and mental health challenges.

Cathy’s research has led to over 200 papers and developed a substantial research portfolio. However, it is her research group, how this is run, and the supportive, inclusive infrastructure she has helped to develop for which she is most proud. In close second place are the numerous summer schools she has run to support disadvantaged groups to get into further education and understand disability justice issues.

Cathy calls herself an Improbable Professor, and she works towards helping ensure more improbable professors exist so that academia can thrive. Cathy is working on a draft of her improbable professor story and is developing thinking on the intersectionality of trauma, disability and the design of technology to aid post-traumatic growth, including neurodivergent needs.

“I needed a breakdown to realise I had mental health challenges and waited until my forties to appreciate my neurodivergent brain. I hope my story helps others learn sooner, so they live more of their life in a happier place.”

Cathy speaks at opening of the GDI Hub lab opening in front of UCL WHO Collaborating Centre on Assistive Technology banner

Disability Power 100 2023 profile information has been 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.

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