Dr Mark Carew

Social Psychologist and Disability Researcher

Dr Mark Carew works with governments and leaders in the disability rights movement globally to end disability inequality and create a more inclusive society. A social psychologist by training, he is currently a senior researcher at Leonard Cheshire. Mark was born with cerebral palsy.

Aged 30, Mark has published over 20 peer-reviewed research articles, book chapters and reports to date about understanding and addressing the inequality that people with disabilities experience globally. In addition, he regularly speaks about his research at national and international conferences. His work has informed a range of contexts, including international policy.

With Leonard Cheshire, Mark has played a key role in several UK government-funded projects designed to address inequality for people with disabilities, including two based in Africa. Bridging the Gap looks at addressing the link between disability and poverty in four African countries and the Girls Education Challenge project looks at providing 2,500 girls with disabilities in Kenya access to inclusive education. He has also mentored young professionals with disabilities who get internships as part of Leonard Cheshire’s Change100 scheme.

Throughout his career so far, Mark has regularly lectured in psychology, disability studies and global health at several UK universities, as well as supervised research students in these areas. He is an honorary research associate at University College London.

Mark is a co-author of Disability and Sexual Health: A Critical Exploration of Key Issues, a book which analyses the evidence on the provision of sexual and reproductive healthcare and sexual rights for disabled people globally. He was also an expert contributor to the United Nations Flagship Report on Disability and Development. In 2018, he won funding to share his research findings at an event in Ethiopia designed to empower youth with disabilities.