Southampton woman named most influential disabled person

Celia Chartres-Aris was recognised in the Shaw Trust Disability Power 100 list.

She was acknowledged for her work as a government special adviser, campaigner, lobbyist, researcher, and policy and legal expert.

Celia Chartres-Aris (Image: Supplied) Ms Chartres-Aris, who has multiple disabilities due to a rare genetic condition called Loeys-Dietz Syndrome, has been an advocate for disability equity and human rights.

She has received numerous accolades for her work, including being named on the Global Diversity Leaders list and as a Global Future Young Leaders Scholar UK Delegate.

As a government special adviser for disability and health, Ms Chartres-Aris collaborates with national and international governments on policy and legislative matters.

She has founded several disabled-led organisations and her work has been recognised by Forbes, the Financial Times, Metro, and BBC.

A speaker at the Shaw Trust Disability Power 100 (Image: Supplied) Additionally, Ms Chartres-Aris co-founded the UK's first policy unit focusing on disability at the heart of Westminster and Access2Funding, which improves opportunities for disabled entrepreneurs.

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Speaking about their award Celia said: "My aim in life is to make myself redundant as there shouldn’t be a job where Disabled people are having to fight for their fundamental human rights across the world.

"It is the privilege of a lifetime to have received this incredible accolade, to sit amongst previous winners such as Stephen Hawking and Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, and a moment I shall never forget.

"Creating a world where Disabled people aren’t just surviving, we are thriving, because we have smashed down the barriers in our paths, is my ultimate aspiration."

A recipient at the Disability Power Awards (Image: Supplied) Head of Disability Power 100, Alona De Havilland, said: "The Disability Power 100 is all about creating change, it celebrates ambition and achievement, and plays a role in challenging society’s perceptions of disability by recognising the strengths, contributions and successes of 100 disabled individuals each year."

The awards are publicly nominated and judged by a panel of 25 disabled champions, including international business leader Dr Shani Dhanda, chief executive of Paralympics GB, David Clark, and Coronation Street actor Cherylee Houston.