I am the Advocacy Lead at Dimensions, a not-for-profit provider of care for people with autism and learning disabilities. I am a passionate advocate for those who do not have an equal voice in the world or equal power over their lives.

My Fellowship focuses on disability hate crime. This is a personal topic for me, as someone with a learning disability; I have also sadly been a victim. My work is dedicated to fighting for people like me to have a life and to be involved in what happens to them.

My Fellowship goal is to share my experience and to learn from leaders in the USA about what they are doing to make a positive difference in hate crime reporting, support and prevention. I wish to speak to leaders who have an interest in and power to create change for those living with learning disabilities and autism. I would also like to connect with self-advocacy and learning disability groups in the USA to hear about their experiences. My aim is to encourage shared knowledge in approaches to this often invisible but always important problem that affects people with learning disabilities and autism in both our countries.