This year’s Shaw Trust Disability Power 100 list has been announced and includes Rick Rodgers, British Fencing Inclusion Officer (Disability).
Recognised for his work as a disability changemaker, Rick Rodgers is being celebrated as one of the 100 most influential disabled individuals in the UK and a leader in his field. The awards are publicly nominated and judged by a panel of 25 disabled champions, including international business leader Dr Shani Dhanda, Chief Executive of Paralympics GB David Clark, and Coronation Street actor Cherylee Houston.
Rick Rodgers has been recognised for his impact, innovation and influence in changing the perceptions and stereotypes of disability. His work has included creating Disability Inclusive Cheerleading and spearheading its existence as an international division at the ICU World Championships. Through his charity ParaCheer International CIO, Rick shares coaching skills as well as understanding about the sport to people in over 18 countries, helping them start inclusive teams.
More recently, Rick has been working with BF in the role of Inclusion Officer and has grown wheelchair fencing participation by over 400%, breaking down barriers to participation in the sport by educating the community, opening competitions and opportunities, and innovating new equipment schemes. His most recent project, the SwordSeat™, reduces the cost of training wheelchair fencing at grassroots by over 90%. It works as an easily-packable and stackable system, serving as a user-friendly tool in clubs, schools, and activity centres.
Speaking about his award, Rick said:
“It is wonderful to be recognised by the Shaw Trust as one of this year’s Disability 100. Being turned away from participation in sport and physical activities when I became a wheelchair user 16 years ago lit a fire under me to work tirelessly to enable both myself and others like me to have opportunities to continue to be active and enjoy movement. I’m definitely not at the end of that journey, but I’m proud of what I’ve achieved so far and know accolades like this will only further propel me in that mission.”
National charity Shaw Trust runs the Disability Power 100 to raise the profile of disabled talent and to challenge the disability employment gap head-on. Head of Disability Power 100, Alona De Havilland, says:
“The Disability Power 100 is all about creating change. It celebrates ambition and achievement and plays a role in challenging society’s perceptions of disability by recognising the strengths, contributions and successes of 100 disabled individuals each year.
“We all need role models. People who are pioneers and changemakers. This year we witnessed our ParalympicsGB Paralympians rightly celebrated for their elite athleticism, sporting prowess and determination to succeed. The Disability Power 100 celebrates disabled roles models with the same determination, expertise and ambition in all sectors from architecture to construction; finance to healthcare; transport to music. It is a rallying cry to future generations of leaders and a call for employers and society to recognise the talents and skills of disabled people.”
The full list of 2024 finalists can be found at www.disabilitypower100.com.
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