Dimensions, the UK’s largest not-for-profit that supports people with learning disabilities and autism, has announced the opening of nominations on the 1st of September for its Annual Learning Disability and Autism Leaders’ List in partnership with Learning Disability England and Voluntary Organisations Disability Group (VODG), celebrating the extraordinary stories and achievements of people across the UK.
With Dimensions’ research revealing that 96% of people felt that everyone can learn something from people with learning disabilities and autism, it is vital we celebrate the achievements of people with learning disabilities and autism. Equally, with 75% of respondents saying that it is easy for people in the wider community to forget about people with learning disabilities and autism, the value of initiatives such as the Leaders’ List is clear.
Initiatives like the Leaders’ List can help ensure that people with learning disabilities and autism have improved representation. The Leaders’ List also helps to address the challenging stigmas that are associated with learning disabilities and autism and shine a spotlight on the achievements of people across the UK.
Nominations will open on 1st of September across categories including sports, arts and entertainments; local communities; work and education and advocacy, policy and media. With a wide range of categories, the 2022 Leaders’ List will celebrate the achievements of people from all walks of life.
Some examples of the winners across the various categories include:
- Dan Pepper – a Paralympian swimmer who presented the programme ‘The Fake Paralympians’, looking into the nine-year ban on intellectual impairment sports at the Paralympics, following a cheating scandal
- Ruben Reuter – a Channel 4 News correspondent and actor with Down’s syndrome, who has reported on issues such as the effects of the pandemic on people with additional needs and court cases challenging abortion laws
- Helen Evans – an openly autistic CEO of the charity PDA Society who is passionate about challenging perceptions of autism
- Chloe Douds – a member of the LGBTQIA+ community who is campaigning for Pride events to be made more accessible and inclusive for physically disabled and autistic people
- Nicola Martin – a campaigner for neurodiversity communities who has pioneered a national autism training programme with the ‘Your Voice’ team at ‘Talkback UK’ (a leading disability and autism charity)
Sector support!
Dimensions
“We are delighted to announce that nominations for our annual Leaders List are open. Every year we are endlessly inspired by the amazing achievements of all of our nominees and winners. With the importance of shining a spotlight on these incredible stories clearer than ever, we very much look forward to receiving all of this year’s nominations.”
Learning Disability England
“The List is more than an award. It is national recognition and celebration of the important contributions people with learning disabilities and autistic people make locally and nationally across all walks of life. Learning Disability England is proud to be a partner to the Dimensions’ Leader’s List.”
Voluntary Organisations Disability Group
The Learning Disability and Autism Leaders’ List celebrates the remarkable achievements and contributions that people with learning disabilities and autism make to communities and to the lives of others each and every day. The Voluntary Organisations Disability Group is a proud supporter of the List.”
Learn more about Dimensions’ 2022 Leaders’ List here
#LDALeadersList
