Visible Disability Personality of the Year - Finalists

Sponsored by University of Manchester

David Bourroughs

On finding out he was a finalist David said..............

"It feels great to be nominated in the Visible Disability Personality of the year category.  I feel that my work as the founder of Buddies for All CIC is beginning to have an impact and being a finalist will help accelerate this further."

David told us a little more about his work.............

"Buddies for All is a disabled-led Community Interest Company founded by David Bourroughs to address the social isolation he experienced as a disabled person. We provide one-to-one support from trained, DBS-checked peer buddies with lived experience of disability or long-term health conditions, offering empathetic, personalised support that helps clients reduce isolation, build independence, and improve wellbeing"

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Isaac Harvey MBE

On hearing he was confirmed as a finalist Isaac told us.................

"I was lucky enough to win this award last year, so to be a finalist again is something I really wasn’t expecting. There are so many people out there doing incredible work who deserve the spotlight just as much, if not more. I’m honestly just grateful to be part of a community where we’re all pushing for better visibility and change together."

Isaac also summarised some of the things he does..........

"I’m a content creator, speaker and disability advocate who somehow finds himself doing things I never imagined. Such as rolling through Paris with roller skaters, having the opportunity to hold the Olympic torch or most recently speaking at Wembley Arena. But at the core of it, I just try to share real stories and keep challenging the way people see disability."

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Victoria Jenkins

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Kaye Moors

We asked Kaye what it felt like to be announced as a finalist ............

"Being announced as a finalist is an incredible honour. Each day, I work tirelessly to raise awareness around this vital, yet too often overlooked discipline. It’s about ensuring everyone is included, heard, and empowered in the digital world, and I’m proud to be part of that mission"

We asked Kaye to tell us a bit more about what she does ..........

"I design accessible marketing, platforms, and websites that ensure inclusivity is built in from the start. I also lead webinars, workshops, and training sessions to educate stakeholders and teams on accessibility best practices, because accessibility isn’t a checkbox, it’s a shared responsibility across every role and project."

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Dr Rupy Kaur Roberts

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Doaa Shayea

We asked Doaa to tell us a little more about herself......................

"I’m a Great Britain powerlifter competing at the elite level but beyond the medals and platforms, I see sport as a tool for transformation. As a visibly Muslim woman who wears the hijab and uses a wheelchair, I exist at the intersection of identities that are often misunderstood or excluded. I’m passionate about driving inclusion through lived experience and purposeful action.

Every day, I navigate spaces that weren’t designed with me in mind yet I’ve never let that hold me back. My hijab is my strength. My wheelchair is part of my journey. My presence in elite sport is both personal and political: a reminder that excellence and inclusion go hand in hand.

Through speaking, consultancy, and advocacy, I work to create more accessible, equitable environments because no one should have to question whether they belong."