Ava Jolliffe
Digital artist/designer
Rising Star
Ava was just 3 years old, when she lost her ability to walk, talk, hear and a large percentage of her vision.
Always a lover of drawing and art, Ava knew she wanted to make an impact as an artist, and to show that being a Deafblind disabled person would not be prohibitive to achieving her dreams.
She wanted to ensure that the labels society placed upon her would not go unchallenged, and she could provide positive disabled representation for her peers.
For the past 13 years, Ava has worked tremendously hard to prove herself as an artist and designer. And has proudly solely exhibited her art twice, winning awards. She has collaboratively worked with Anglia Ruskin university, Deafblind UK, Ocado, Bealies Adaptive Wear and recently helped design an inclusive sell out range of clothing for her disabled peers with Asda.
She has appeared on the BBC Britains Best Young Artist show as a Deafblind artist to inspire others. And has won awards from Sense, Time to shine, and recently been highly commended for a community impact award, for her achievements as a disabled ambassador.
She has been involved in access assessments for historic buildings and raised funds for charity, including a groundbreaking collaboration with Deafblind U.K. producing the first U.K. NFT project by a Deafblind disabled artist.
Ava continues to look for ways to innovate, and to challenge perceptions across society whilst doing so.
“I am honoured to be included with so many amazing people in this year’s Disability Power 2023. I am proud of my disabled diversity, and look to use my successes, ambition and passion to open conversations and challenge perceptions of what a Deafblind person can achieve.”
Disability Power 100 2023 profile information has been self-submitted by the profile subject. Shaw Trust understands and respects that disability and impairment descriptors and language use varies from person to person. Shaw Trust assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or discrepancies in the content of this, or any other, profile page.
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