Emily Rose Yates
Accessibility Consultant and Journalist
Emily Rose Yates is an Accessibility Consultant and Journalist, living in Glasgow.
After volunteering at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Emily was invited to Rio de Janeiro by the British Consulate to speak on the importance of access and inclusion ahead of the 2016 Games. Whilst there, she was offered a role as Accessibility Consultant for MetroRio, the underground transport system for the city. Over the next two years, she advised on modernisations of existing stations, conducted risk assessments, trained staff and worked with architects to create plans for an accessible transport line to the Olympic Park.
Now an accessibility consultant in the UK, Emily is the inclusive design associate at CCD Design and Ergonomics and has most recently worked with Heathrow Airport to update their Access and Inclusion Standards for passengers and staff.
Emily frequently presents and writes on disability issues, having fronted several documentaries for BBC Three and written for the Guardian, the Independent and Telegraph Travel. She authored the Lonely Planet Guide to Accessible Rio de Janeiro, endorsed by the International Paralympic Committee and available to download by athletes, tourists and locals alike ahead of the 2016 Games.
A wheelchair user herself, Emily is also a disability awareness trainer for Enhance the UK and manages their Undressing Disability campaign, championing the right for disabled people to have access to sexual expression. She recently delivered a TEDx talk on this issue and is currently studying for a PhD in Women’s Studies at the University of York.
Useful links
“I’m incredibly grateful to be included in the Power 100, and so lucky to work with organisations that understand the importance of access and inclusion, and promote the value of lived experience. Slowly but surely, businesses in every sector are recognising that ensuring physical and social access for deaf and disabled people, be that through barrier-free entrances, subtitled videos or disability awareness training for staff, is not merely a kind and ethical thing to do; it also promotes a positive and profitable business model.”