In building and shaping a more inclusive world, we celebrate the rich history and culture of the Black community through their voices.

Join us as we spotlight Black disabled leaders who are reshaping access, creativity and justice across the UK. From grassroots scenes to national stages, their voices and commitment to disability justice carries power, care and impact.

Michelle Daley

“Education is empowerment.”

Michelle Daley’s leadership ensures disabled learners of global majority communities can grow up with genuine choice, inclusion and opportunity. Michelle is the director of ALLFIE (The Alliance for Inclusive Education), a disabled-led organisation who work with individuals and organisations to build a world where inclusive education is a right, not a struggle.

Drawing on over 20 years of experience, Michelle has campaigned and advocated for disability justice at a local, national and international level and dedicates her career to address disability justice at an intersectional level.

Michelle has an abundance of invaluable resources on her website from academic reading and blog to music, videos & podcasts that cover the intersectionality of race, gender and disability.

Clenton Farquharson CBE

Change doesn’t happen in the boardrooms, it starts with lived experience.

Powered by over 20 years of practical experience and theoretical studies in inclusion and accessibility, Clenton Farquharson CBE uses this insight to feed into his consultancy work, Farquharson Training and Consultancy, which centres equity, anti-oppression, diversity and inclusion. Clenton has been dedicated to ensuring social care and health systems are co-created with the people they serve.

Julie Jaye Charles CBE

Representation isn’t just visibility, it’s legacy.

Julie Jaye Charles CBE brings decades of expertise and commitment to advancing equality and inclusion. She founded the Equalities National Council, the UK’s first Black disabled-led organisation, creating pathways for everyone and anybody to rise – and influences policies that promote fairness and representation.

Lizzie Emeh

“I’m loud and I’m proud.”

The late Lizzie Emeh broke new ground for artists with learning disabilities – proving that when access opens, creativity soars. leading her to become a key figure in driving change for people with learning disabilities in the arts.

She has been recognised nationally for her incredible talents and ground-breaking achievements in the industry by winning two national awards. Her voice and vision continue to inspire generations of disabled creatives.

You can read more about Lizzie’s story and listen to her music.

Signkid (Kevin Walker)

“My music is a visual art form. What you hear, I feel and see.”

Deaf rapper and producer Signkid is redefining what music sounds – and looks – like, one BSL verse at a time. He bridges sound and sign, creating a different approach to music access and redefining what it means to make music accessible.

His dedication to music accessibility stemmed from his recognition of the lack of Deaf representation in the music industry, which led him to become that representation and break into music, on his terms.

Watch Signkid perform a Live Lounge on BBC, whilst sharing his experience in signing music.

Ifeoluwa (Yewande Adeniran)

The future of club culture is inclusive, accessible, and unapologetically neurodivergent.

DJ, writer, filmmaker, academic and educator – Ifeoluwa (Yewande Adeniran) – is a force for change in the grassroots music scene. Their Intervention workshops are aimed to teach and empower people from intersectional communities to learn music production skills and DJing, in a safe and accessible environment.

They consistently champion and promote inclusivity, resistance and community in the music industry – Check out this article on their lived experience as a Black, autistic DJ.

Iyiola Olafimihan

Everyone in a diverse society should be able to use the built environment and systems and participate equally.

Bringing decades of lived experience, legal insight and grassroots activism to inclusivity in the UK, and globally.

Iyiola was a lawyer in Nigeria and moved into banking in the UK, where he developed an understanding around disability justice. He developed his skills in disability awareness, activism and campaigning, becoming a founding member of ASCEND, an activist group working to achieve disability discrimination legislation in Nigeria.

Read this interview with Iyiola Olafimihan about inclusive space