If you ask me…

Who has had the biggest influence on you?
Disability rights campaigner Anne Pridmore. We started at opposite
sides of the table and have learned a lot over the years.

Which health or social care professional has been most use
to you?
My GP. She treats me as an equal.

If you ran care services in your area what would you do
differently?
For personal assistants to support customers to lead the lives they
wish to.

What event most changed your life?
Attending a European Human Bridges seminar for disabled and
non-disabled young people in Stockholm in 1997.

Has any government policy ever benefited you
personally?
Direct payments.

Who or what is your dream date?
A dirty weekend in Prague with my boyfriend and our personal
assistants.

If you won the lottery how would you spend
it?
Expand my business, buy a new house and office, buy Disability Now
from Scope.

What is your greatest achievement?

Getting a standing ovation for making a speech on disability at a
Council of Europe conference in Strasbourg.

When were you last angry?
Trying to sort out my care funding from the Independent Living
Fund.

Who would you like to swap places with?
The person Tony Blair actually listens to.

How would you like to be remembered?
As the Bill Gates of the disability field.

What is the most important lesson you have
learned?
You can’t tell anyone what they are not ready to hear because they
won’t listen.