Esi has had a passion for acting and looked forward to participating in drama activities in college. As part of the college drama department, she encountered firsthand the need for disability awareness and had to routinely stand up for her rights as a disabled student. She found that the institution had not prepared itself and the employees to work in an inclusive fashion. After her college experience, Esi decided to proactively take on this issue by creating a consultancy with a vision to end disability inequality. As the Managing Director of her consultancy named Celebrating Disability, she helps institutions and businesses by educating and advising them to be disability-confident such that they can create an inclusive environment where all are enabled to reach their fullest potential. Esi also hosts a podcast #PartofMe where she provides advice for disabled employees, managers and business owners. She also works with schools to facilitate talks and drama workshops on disability awareness.

How and when did you decide to start your disability consultancy, “Celebrating Disability”?E: I started my business Celebrating Disability in January 2017 after working for a charity. I wanted to support businesses to be inclusive of disabled people. I understood that in order to do that they had to feel confident when interacting with disabled people and understand the barriers that we as disabled people face on a daily basis. I was put in touch with a social enterprise that supported people who wanted to set up their own businesses. The social enterprise helped me put together a business plan, a financial plan and a marketing strategy.

What topics do you address in your podcast?E: My podcast #PartofMe Podcast interviews disabled people on their experiences of the workplace. This may be the workplace in whatever presentation this means to them; whether it be a tennis journalist travelling the world to report on Paralympic tennis, a CEO of a disabled people’s organisation or a former Paralympic swimmer. Within the podcast, we discuss the barriers that my guests face to employment, what could be done to overcome these barriers and advice for disabled people within organisations and line managers who manage disabled people.

What important steps should be taken to promote inclusiveness?E:  I think there are many steps to promote inclusiveness. However, for me there are three obvious steps that anyone can take:
-  A developed awareness of the barriers that people face and what can be done about those barriers
-  An acceptance and celebration of difference
-  A willingness and confidence to try something new or in a different way

How do you face obstacles in life? What keeps you moving forward?E: I am a very wilfully independent person so any barrier that I face, I see as a challenge to overcome. I use common sense, previous experience, determination and problem-solving skills to support me to find solutions to obstacles. I also rely on my friends, family members and colleagues to help me problem solve.

What are your other hobbies?E: I love Robbie Williams, I have seen him in concert 13 times and plan to see him a lot more! I enjoy playing amateur and professional poker and watching plays and musicals. Since working a lot in London, I am challenging myself to visit as many Yo Sushi restaurants as possible.

What is your favorite place to visit? What do you love about that place?E: I love New York, Berlin and London. All three are buzzing. I love New York and London for the same reasons: everything is there when you want it. I love Berlin because of the history and I think it’s a beautiful city. The food is delicious too!

What is your suggestion for families of children with disabilities to empower their children?E: I think it can be quite scary for family members when they find out that they are going to have a disabled child. Because, unlike many other experiences, chances are family members have never experienced disability before. Also, everyone around them is likely telling them that the child will never succeed in the same way as their siblings and peers. Also, everybody has an opinion. My advice would be to raise your child exactly the same way as you would have done if they weren’t disabled. Yes, you need to acknowledge the impairment and the restrictions that go along with it. But you should celebrate the disability and help your child understand that there is nothing to be ashamed of or apologetic for. Because if you are unapologetic, you’re firstly bringing up your child to be confident and secondly you are showing the people that you need support from that you’re not a pushover. Use positive language that reinforces the potential and that doesn’t leave people thinking that your child is helpless or a burden or that they are somebody to feel sorry for.

What tips/advice do you have for those in our community who want to overcome challenges?E: If you believe you can do it, you probably can. You may just have to find a different way to do it.

Any special message for our community?E: As disabled people, we do not need to be taken care of, we can take care of ourselves. We have the right to make choices, make mistakes, have a laugh, earn a living and be treated equally in society. If this is not happening at the moment, this is more about the people around you than you yourself. Find allies that can help you to change what you don’t like. You are entitled to live the life that you want to but you have to put in the effort to make it happen.