Disability Power 100 list 2018 reveals most influential disabled people in the UK

Artists, bloggers, entrepreneurs, sports stars and many more rubbed shoulders at the launch of the Shaw Trust Disability Power 100 List 2018 on Wednesday (17 October). Alex Brooker, journalist, comedian and presenter of Channel 4’s award winning show “The Last Leg” was announced as number one on the list. The top 10 also includes:

Jonnie Peacock, Paralympian legend
Baroness Jane Campbell, Peer
Martyn Sibley, Travel Writer, Podcaster, Entrepreneur and Activist
Adam Hills, Comedian and presenter
Warwick Davis, Actor
Ruth Owen OBE, CEO of Whizz-Kidz
Gary Bourlet, Campaigner
Neil Miliken, Head of Accessibility and Digital Inclusion, Atos
Nancy Doyle, CEO Genius Within CIC

The annual publication lists the 100 most influential disabled people in the UK. More than 700 nominations were received for the 100 places. The Disability Power 100 List is compiled by an independent judging panel, chaired by Kate Nash OBE. Kate is the world’s leading authority in ‘Networkology’ – the science behind the growth of workplace networks and resource groups. In 2007 she was awarded an OBE for services to disabled people. In 2013 she was appointed Ambassador to Disability Rights UK.

On being named the most influential disable person in the UK, Alex Brooker said:
“I just wanted to beat Hills. That’s all I cared about was beating Hills. Even if it was ranked to 100 and I was 99 but he was 100 I’d’ve been happy. To get all these disabled people together, and acknowledge them, in one publication. It’s fantastic. There are disabled people who are doing amazing things in all manner of industries who you otherwise may not hear about. Obviously the likes of myself and Hillsy and the Paralympians, to an extent: our work is widely known because it’s on television, it gets newspaper coverage, but there’s a great number of disabled people who I’d argue have probably been more influential than myself but who are working in different industries.”

Nick Bell, Interim Chief Executive of Shaw Trust – a charity helping to transform the lives of young people and adults across the UK and internationally, said:
“Congratulations to all those on the Power list. The judges were beyond impressed by the standard of nominations but selected the most influential people who are proving that disability or impairment is not a barrier to success. One of our aims for the Disability Power 100 list is to demonstrate to young people that they can achieve their ambitions. At Shaw Trust we work with government, local authorities and employers to support people overcome barriers which hold them back from achieving their potential.”

The full Shaw Trust Disability Power 100 List can be found on www.disabilitypower100.com.