About Anna-Ruth
I am passionate about delivering inclusive experiences for all by equipping people and businesses to identify and tackle the barriers that people face to using and enjoying their spaces, services, and experiences.
I use my lived experience of disability and professional experience working in accessibility and inclusion to support you to understand the needs of your colleagues, customers and service users and ensure they are considered at every step.
In 2021 and 2024, I was recognised as one of the UK's 100 Most Influential Disabled People by the Shaw Trust for my work on accessibility in aviation and higher education.
I live with Functional Neurological Disorder, a condition which impacts my mobility and energy levels, and causes pain and non-epileptic seizures. I am passionate about using my experience to deliver change for other disabled people, striving for a more accessible and equitable world for all.
I use a social model approach, focusing on removing the barriers people face and mitigating their impact, rather than focusing on the specific impairment somebody may have. Using this approach, I can identify challenges and solutions for all creating change that can improve the overall user experience for everyone.
Previously, I worked at London Gatwick managing projects which tackle the challenges disabled passengers face head on and create a better passenger experience for all. Delivering an inclusive passenger experience needs support from across the business and outside of it, so working with stakeholders to raise awareness and understanding of the needs of disabled people was vital. Nothing about us without us, so working with disabled people themselves to identify challenges and opportunities was core to what I delivered.
In my previous roles, I have championed health, wellbeing, and inclusion in higher education, leading the University of St Andrews' Student Mental Health Agreement and nationally recognised initiatives to target gender-based violence and spiking. Working with my team of student volunteers to deliver the change they wanted to see for students was at the heart of everything I did, and I continued to serve as a trustee of the Students' Association until 2023 to promote volunteer engagement and opportunities.
Contact Anna-Ruth
Email me on hello@annaruthcockerham.co.uk or fill out the form to get in touch with any queries or to work with me.