Disability speakers are key to focusing on the International Day of Persons With Disabilities is a United Nations-recognised day is celebrated every December 3rd. The aim of the awareness day is to promote the rights and well-being of any person with disabilities, and to raise awareness of the situations they experience in economic, cultural, social, and political life. The World Health Organisation join the UN in observing the day, reinforcing the importance of securing the rights of people with disabilities.

What Are the Numbers?

• 1.3 billion people experience significant disability, which represents about 16% of the entire world’s population, or 1 in every 6 of us.
• People with disabilities have twice the risk of developing depression, diabetes, asthma, obesity, stroke, or poor oral health.
• Some people with disabilities have a life expectancy that is 20 years less than those without disabilities.
• Disabled people may face inequalities due to stigma, poverty, discrimination, barriers from the health system, and exclusion from education and employment.

Here at Great British Speakers, we have collated a wide collection of speakers with personal experience in a range of disabilities.

Ade Adepitan – Disability Speaker

From medal-winning Paralympian to popular TV Presenter, Ade Adepitan is often hired to speak at high-profile public events, including at the launch of the 2012 Olympic bid. He now works extensively in the UK, giving motivational speeches to schools, businesses, and charities about disability and discrimination. He is an inspirational equality speaker who was recognised on the 2020 Powerlist 100 Most Influential Black British People. To find out more about Ade, take a look at his full bio HERE.

Katy Deacon – Disability Speaker

Katy Deacon is an award-winning Chartered Electrical Engineer, a Fellow of the Institute of Engineering Technology (IET), an enthusiastic keynote speaker, a wife, a mother, and a wheelchair user. She is the founder of Towards Belonging Limited, which stemmed from her own needs following a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis back in 2012. After spending so long in a wheelchair, she realised the difficulties posed by a lack of understanding from engineers in how to build accessible and inclusive environments. To find out more about Katy, take a look at her full bio HERE.

Amar Latif – Disability Speaker

As a blind entrepreneur, Amar Latif is a living example of defying societal expectations and pushing boundaries. He encourages individuals to challenge their own perceived limitations and find opportunities within adversity. By sharing his entrepreneurial journey, Amar imparts valuable insights on perseverance, innovation, and the power of determination. Amar was recognised for his achievements on the King’s first birthday Honours List in 2023. To find out more about Amar, take a look at his full bio HERE.

Amit Ghose – Disability Speaker

Amit Ghose is a disability speaker who was born with Neurofibromatosis Type 1. After enduring years of bullying, he now helps support and inspire new generations to be kind. He advises audiences of all ages on how to be confident with who they are and how to overcome challenges and obstacles. Whilst there is more understanding of disabilities in wider society, there are still some taboo topics around it, even within families, friendship groups, and workplaces. Amit hopes that talking publicly about his difficulties will help support and inspire people to be more considerate and respectful. To find out more about Amit, take a look at his full bio HERE.

Lucy Edwards – Disability Speaker

Lucy Edwards is a blind social media influencer, content creator, radio broadcaster and presenter, disability speaker and the first ever blind ambassador for beauty brand Pantene. In 2013, at the age of 17, Lucy Edwards lost her vision and had to learn how to navigate her life again. Whilst a frightening time, it was also the beginning of an extraordinary journey to find self-acceptance and joy again. Whilst her message is serious, her medium is not; she likes to explore blindness in an entertaining and accessible way, without being patronising to those who do not have prior knowledge of blindness. To find out more about Lucy, take a look at her full bio HERE.

Jamie Andrew – Disability Speaker

In 1999, Jamie and a climbing partner were trapped for five nights on the storm-bound icy summit of a French mountain. Sadly, the rescue came too late for his partner. Jamie, despite suffering frostbite and hypothermia, survived, but ended up having his feet and hands amputated. He is now an incredibly inspiring individual. He was the first quadruple amputee to have climbed the Matterhorn in Switzerland, climb Kilimanjaro in Africa, complete a marathon, and complete an Iron Man Triathlon. To find out more about Jamie, take a look at his full bio HERE.

Sophie Morgan – Disability Speaker

Sophie Morgan is a TV presenter, broadcaster, author, and disability campaigner. She has been paralysed from the chest down since she was 18 when she was injured in a car crash, and is one of the few presenters with a permanent physical disability. She is an award-winning campaigner for her educational work and her work raising awareness of the access and attitudinal barriers facing people with disabilities. She is often voted as one of the Top 10 Influential People With a Disability in the UK. To find out more about Sophie, take a look at her full bio HERE.

Winston Ben Clements – Disability Speaker

Winston was predicted to live a life of isolation and pain due to a rare bone disorder that stunted his growth, and caused his bones to be extremely fragile (fracturing more than 150 times by age 12). Despite his small stature (3 feet tall) and use of a wheelchair, Winston’s frame of mind is NO EXCUSES and NO LIMITS. Whether in the workplace or It’s his passion to inspire audiences to break through their own self-limiting beliefs. To find out more about Winston, take a look at his full bio HERE.

David Constantine MBE – Disability Speaker

David Constantine MBE is a pioneering expert in disability design, charity founder, and independent consultant.

Initially interested in pursuing a career in agriculture, a diving accident at 21 stopped him in his tracks, and he was forced to look down a new path.

Over his 30+ year career, David has built a worldwide reputation in the disability sector and was named an MBE in 2010 for services to disability. He also won the RSA Student Design Awards and the RSA Bicentenary Medal for his contribution to design advancement in industry and society.

David is now one of the most sought-after disability speakers on the circuit, speaking at expos, summits, and to individual business owners and companies.

To find out more about David, take a look at his full bio HERE.

Hire a Speaker for International Day of Persons With Disability

At Great British Speakers, we are fortunate enough to work with a number of inspirational disabled speakers, including those above, and those with invisible and neurological disabilities. To book the perfect speaker, email [email protected] or call us at +44 1753 439 289 to speak to a member of the team.