WE ROAR Magazine issue 04 - Magazine - Page 52
Celia Chartres-Aris (she/her/hers) is a multi-award-winning Disabled Government
special advisor, campaigner and lobbyist, researcher, policy and legal expert, founder,
and investor who advocates for the improvement of Disability equity and accessibility
inclusivity. As a SPAD (Government Special Adviser for Disability and Health), she works
around the world with national, British Territories, and international Governments in
policy and strategy development, legislative design and performance, lobbying, unit
management and implementing international Disability law. She has founded several
disabled-led organisations focused on policy development and advancement, ensuring
that Disabled people are at the heart of legislation and consultation worldwide. She has
received multiple awards recognising her work, including being named on The Global
Diversity Leaders list, a Global Future Young Leaders Scholar, and the third most
influential Disabled person in the UK, changing law and policy.
Celia's work has been internationally recognised by organisations such as Forbes, The
Financial Times, Metro and BBC. As an entrepreneur, Celia is the Co-founder of the first
policy unit in the UK which focuses on putting Disability at the heart of Westminster,
Access2Funding, which brings together the global investment market.
Unlearning Ableism, which, through speaking, consultation, and training, is tackling
head-on the discrimination of Disabled people, educating, spreading awareness, and
amplifying the diversity of the Disabled voice. Celia regularly speaks to and advises
organisations and charities around the world, such as Virgin, NHS, UCL, Amazon, and
British Banking. As an investor, Celia has supported and guided countless disabledled entrepreneurs and sits on a number of organisational boards as a champion for
inclusion and accessibility.
Alongside being an advocate for inclusive law and policy, Celia is an active
campaigner for Disability rights as a LinkedIn 8Top Voice9. She has orchestrated a
number of highly successful campaigns, including the successful reinstatement of The
Secretary of State for Disability, the implementation of United Nations Conventions
on the Rights of Disabled Persons and the House of Commons Disability debates.
Celia was born with multiple disabilities as a result of a rare and terminal genetic
condition; Loeys-Dietz Syndrome. She lives every day with multiple organ failure; she
has never known her life without her Disability and takes pride in her Disabled
identity, working hard to break down systematic ableism, discrimination, and archaic
stereotypes about the talents, potential, and ability of Disabled people.
SOCIAL LINKS / HANDLES (links open in new tabs):
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/celia-chartres-aris/
Twitter: https://x.com/celia_hensman
LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/CeliaChartresAris
WEBSITE/S: https://unlearningableism.com/
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