One of most influential people with a disability
ACTIVIST AND BLOGGER SIMON SINGLED OUT
DEDICATION to challenging stigmas and standing up to discrimination has led to a campaigner being hailed one of the most influential disabled people in the UK.
Simon Sansome sustained a lifechanging injury a few years ago and now uses a wheelchair.
In 2016, he created a Facebook group, Ability Access, which has 85,000 followers around the globe and aims to promote awareness, education and information about disability. He also blogs about his experiences.
His work has resulted in him being shortlisted by charity the Shaw Trust, for its 2021 Power 100 award – a list of the UK’s most influential people with disabilities.
Simon, of Markfield, wrote: “While I can deal with the changes in my life like giving up work, moving to an adapted home, having an adapted disability car, I was not expecting the social aspect of being disabled.
“I love going out, I love life and food and just wanted to access the same places everyone else did.
“On my first night out in almost a year following my recovery, I and my wife went to our favourite restaurant.
“What I didn’t expect is that I could not get my wheelchair through the door – there was no disabled access.
“Before my injury I gave little or no thought to disabled access and was shocked at the level of places I was now restricted to.
“Because of this I started Ability Access. The blog is just the start of the journey Ability Access is going on, to raise awareness of disability access and raising issues around disability that need to be discussed both locally and nationally.
“Just over a year ago I was also elected to the committee of the National Trust.
“I am now working with the trust to make visiting their facilities more accessible for the disabled.”
A Shaw Trust spokesman: “A fifth of the UK’s population has a disability or impairment. However, there is very little recognition of successful and influential disabled people.
“Shaw Trust wants to change the public perception of disability, to recognise strong, successful, influential people who are leaders in their field.
“Encouraging the talented leaders of tomorrow to connect with role models and see that aspiration and ambition can be fulfilled regardless of disability or impairment.”