Dr Amy Bonsall shortlisted for Shaw Trust Disability Power 100 2021

23 Jun 2021

FSE Researcher Dr Amy Bonsall, founder and director of the Women in Academia Support Network, has been shortlisted for the Shaw Trust’s 2021 Disability Power 100

The Disability Power 100 is an annual celebration of the 100 most influential disabled people in the UK, working to break the stigma around disability, creating a more accessible and inclusive world for all.

A fifth of the UK’s population has a disability or impairment, however, there is very little recognition of successful and influential disabled people. The Shaw Trust wants to change the public perception of disability, to recognise successful and 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.

The Power 100 has the power to influence people from all walks of life and means something different to everyone on the list. Nikki Fox, BBC Disability Correspondent, was announced as 2020’s most influential disabled person in Britain and chaired the 2021 independent judging panel. This year there were more than 550 nominations for the 100 places on the list.

Amy was diagnosed as dyslexic when she was 14 years old and was not invited back to school to do her A-levels as she wasn’t considered academic enough.  She fought hard to gain her qualifications and earn her PhD through dogged hard work, determination and a support network of family, friends, peers, and professionals – reaching out and asking for help was and remains essential to her successes.

Because of the challenges and adversity she faced and the importance of support networks to her success Amy founded and is a director of the professional network and charity Women in Academia Support Network. The network now has nearly 12,000 members world-wide and exists to support women in academia who are often deemed not academic enough by way of their gender, disability, race, sexuality and class.

As a researcher at our University, Amy is passionate about bridging inequity in science and using creative practice methods of education to support science learning for all children, particularly those who are disadvantaged within the education system. Amy researches and publishes on gender, disadvantage, education, feminism. In addition, Amy’s first love is theatre and as co-artistic director for Bilamankhwe she uses her voice to support equality and diversity in professional theatre too.

Amy said: “Everyone should have free access to the support they need to fulfil their potential.”