Katy Deacon, listed in prestigious Shaw Trust Disability Power 100 2024
This year’s Shaw Trust Disability Power 100 list has been announced and includes Katy Deacon, a prominent advocate for inclusive engineering design and founder of Towards Belonging Limited.
Recognised for her work as a disability changemaker, Katy is being celebrated as one of the 100 most influential disabled individuals in the UK and a leader in her field. The awards are publicly nominated and judged by a panel of 25 distinguished disabled champions, including international business leader Dr Shani Dhanda, Chief Executive of Paralympics GB, David Clark, and Coronation Street actor Cherylee Houston.
Katy Deacon has been honoured for her impact, innovation, and influence in changing the perceptions and stereotypes of disability. Her work focuses on bridging the gap between the disabled community and the engineering industry. She collaborates with engineers to help them understand how they can create a more inclusive and accessible world. Additionally, she empowers disabled people to communicate directly with engineers and designers to ensure their voices are heard.
Katy also serves as a Visiting Professor at the University of Huddersfield and Aston University, where she specialises in inclusive engineering design. In this role, she aims to help both universities and students develop a framework that integrates inclusive practices into every stage of the design process.
Speaking about her inclusion in the Disability Power 100, Katy Deacon said:
“I am incredibly honoured to be recognised in the Disability Power 100 list. It’s a wonderful acknowledgment of the importance of inclusive design and the impact it can have on people’s lives. This recognition motivates me to continue advocating for a future where everyone’s needs are considered in the design process, and I am excited to see what we can achieve together.”
National charity, Shaw Trust, runs the Disability Power 100 to raise the profile of disabled talent and tackle the disability employment gap head-on. Head of Disability Power 100, Alona De Havilland, says: “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.”
She continues: “We all need role models—people who are pioneers and changemakers. This year, we saw our Team GB Paralympians rightly celebrated for their athleticism, prowess, and determination to succeed. The Disability Power 100 honours disabled role models with the same drive, expertise, and ambition across all sectors, from architecture to healthcare, and finance to music. It’s a rallying cry to future generations of leaders and a call for employers and society to recognise the talents and skills of disabled people.”
The full list of 2024 finalists can be found at www.disabilitypower100.com.