Members of the National Co-production Advisory Group

I'm also a licensed Zumba Gold Instructor encouraging people with disabilities to get involved as much as possible. 

My ambition is to make personalisation real no matter the person's disability. I have Autistic Spectrum Condition, Dyspraxia and Epilepsy, and none of these stop me from doing what's important to me.  

I have many and varied roles. I’m a member of the NHS Assembly that oversees the NHS Ten Year Plan; chair of Quality Matters; trustee of the Race Equality Foundation and ambassador for Disability Rights UK. I also fit in being a director at Community Navigator Services CIC, and a Skills for Care ambassador.

In 2014 I received an MBE in recognition of my services to people with disabilities.

I offer organisations the  family carer perspective and support them to embed self-directed support into strategic and operational teams across children's and adult services. 

I have worked for Centre of Welfare Reform, NDTi, FPLD, ARC, Norah Fry Research Centre, NVFF, Hft, DoH, Skills for Care, PfA Pathfinders, HSA , Care provider staff training, Health care commission, CQC,Dfe.

I work for Speakup, which is run by and for people with learning disabilities and/or autism. We work across the country to help people access peer, group and self-advocacy. We also make information accessible and train professionals. 

I sit on the Rotherham Partnership Board and the Health Sub Group and I represent people with learning disabilities on the National Forum in Yorkshire and Humber.

I work as an Expert by Experience for the Care Quality Commission.  I support inspections of hospitals, care homes and domiciliary care agencies - giving people who use services and their relatives a voice in the inspection process.  

I am also a trustee of Inclusion Barnet where I represent people on the Engagement Advisory Board of the NHS Sustainable Transformation Partnership.

I am involved in  steering group leadership roles with People's Committee UEL; Queer Futures at Lancaster University; Research group City University, Redbridge Rainbow committee member; blogger and guest writer at Baseline magazine; Healthwatch member and volunteer at Re:Assure women's project. 

 

My daughter, Maddy, is my inspiration. When she was ten, the White Paper, Valuing People, was published and I had great hopes for her future. Nearly 20 years later, people with learning disabilities still don’t have enough choice and control and are often not included in society. I’m a big fan of Making it Real and 80 + fab I and We statements: stop me and try one!

My professional background is more years in local government than I care to remember, managing public sector housing in the capital and moving into organisational learning and development in Manchester.

I am a divorced mum to grown up children and the survivor of a traumatic brain Injury, cancer, broken limbs and Home Care! 

I am joint chair of Sheffield Cycling 4 All, and sit on other influential boards including Sheffield's Move More and the Brain Injury Rehab Redevelopment Partnership.

I have autism and epilepsy. I try not to let these conditions affect my life. I live in supported living where I chose to have my own support through direct payments and it works well.

I run and set up an LGBT+ group and I have done many vlogs for a local charity. I enjoy vlogging because it enables me to capture what is important and share it with others.