Sophie’s mantra of a positive attitude and resilience has helped her face life’s challenges. She met with an accident at the age of eighteen which left her paralyzed from the chest down. Sophie, who has been voted Top 10 most influential with a disability in the UK, has continued to challenge herself as a disability advocate, a broadcaster and a brand ambassador. She has worked with UK’s Channel 4 for presenting Live Para Sport events, has served as a board member for Ofcom and is an avid advocate for disability rights. Sophie has established Sophie Morgan Creative Ltd. and provides consulting services for large retailers like Target Corporation and John Lewis & Waitrose to improve representation for disabled people in retail, travel and design. Sophie is a passionate adventurer and is the global brand ambassador for Toyota GB, CanAm, as well as Women’s Rights and Inclusive Education for Leonard Cheshire, and serves the Special Advisory Committee for Human Rights Watch.

What key area do you like to address in order to promote positive changes for people with disabilities?S: For me the most important changes we can make our improving accurate disability representation, increasing the visibility of disabled people and enabling strong leadership within our community. My work specifically aims to create the change I want to see in the travel and media industries.

What is your most memorable milestone as a television presenter?S: The most enormous and memorable was presenting The live Rio Paralympics in 2016. I had to present three hours every day to an audience of millions! It was terrifying and extraordinary at the same time.

What are the barriers to inclusiveness? Who can address those barriers and how?S: The barriers to inclusivity exist in both access and attitudinal areas. Anybody can assist with the overcoming of these barriers you don’t have to be a disabled person in fact the more people disabled or nondisabled that can help address the areas of society where disabled people are not included, the better it will be for everybody.

How do you face obstacles in life? What keeps you moving forward?S: I tend to face every obstacle head-on and with as much resilience as I can. I think creatively in every area of my life and use that skill to address the challenges that I have to face. I keep a positive attitude and remain hopeful that no matter what the issue the challenge can be overcome. But I do openly confess that I am not always positive and my disability can be hard to manage at times. But I just keep moving forward!

What are your other hobbies?S: I love to travel and I love to paint and draw.

What is your favorite place to visit? What do you love about that place?S: it would be impossible for me to choose just one place that I love to visit the whole world is out there to explore.

What is your suggestion for families of children with disabilities to empower their children?S: The greatest thing you can do for any disabled adult or child is to treat them the same as you would any one else whilst recognising where they have is unique and special differences to others. But these differences are not necessarily negative in fact disability can be your greatest strength.

Any special message for our community?S: Right now we all need to look after each other as much as we can in the face of such a global crisis. No matter where our differences whether we have physical or sensory or cognitive impairments We face many shared experiences and through the power of social media and other ways of communicating my only message would be to be kind to one other one another and look out for each other.