Meet our spokespeople

Mark is Dimension’s Advocacy Lead. He has a learning disability is an advocate for people with learning disabilities and autism being treated equally. Mark often speaks publicly and has a keen interest in ensuring people with learning disabilities are safe, while remaining independent. He has been awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Kent, an MBE and a place of the Shaw Trust Disability Power 100 list.

Ismail is Mencap’s Parliamentary Affairs Officer and Co-Clerk to the All Party Parliamentary Group on Learning Disability. Ismail has worked for Mencap for 25 years and is a champion for those with learning disabilities chairing the group for colleagues with a learning disability to support all departments in Mencap be more accessible and co-produce things like policy documents and training. Ismail also works on making politics do more things in an accessible way.

Gáibhin is an autistic self-advocate and Public Affairs and Policy Officer at United Response. He is a former carer for his brother and has worked across the UK’s and Ireland’s disability sectors. He previously worked on AsIAm’s successful campaign for Ireland’s first Autism Innovation Strategy, and has spoken internationally about the importance of delivering an EU-wide Autism Strategy.

James has Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and is a full time wheelchair user. He is classed Profound and multiple learning disabled (PMLD) and is non-verbal but uses eye gaze to communicate. Since 18, with reasonable adjustments, he has taken up his democratic right to cast his vote. He is one of Dimensions Learning Disability and Autism Leaders and he is an Electoral Observer.

Hannah is autistic and is part of Ambitious About Autism’s youth network. Hannah is 20 and a big advocate for autism and getting autistic people’s voices heard. She loves animals, helping the environment and singing!

Alex has a learning disability and is supported by United Response. He is passionate about voting and people with a learning disability having their voice heard.

Ali is Head of Public Affairs and Policy at United Response and Chair of the My Vote My Voice steering group. She is a regular spokesperson on a wide range of issues such as accessible voting and democracy, disability hate crime, and social care.

Paula works with Dr Mark Brookes MBE and leads the Dimensions Public Affairs Team. She raises the voice of people with learning disabilities and/or autism on key issues such as care and support, health and employment and democratic participation, so policy makers consider their interests as part of the decision making process.

Shiu-ming Man is a self-advocate living with cerebral atrophy. He has an extensive background in youth work and disability rights, as vice-chair of Richmond Youth Council and as a key member of Choice Support’s Our Rights group. Shiu-ming is also a co-founder of Speak as 1, a discussion group focused on raising political awareness and directly engaging local politicians on disability issues.