Clive Gilbert is a public policy advocate, researcher and thought leader. Over the past 15 years, Clive has developed an inclusive approach to public policy on disability – bringing together disabled people, industry leaders, frontline practitioners and policy makers to build coalitions that change lives.
Since 2019, Clive has managed the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Assistive Technology at the cross-party think tank Policy Connect. In this role, Clive has used his professional expertise and experiences as a disabled person to unite parliamentarians, government ministers, officials and industry leaders around a shared mission to make society accessible for everyone.
Clive is the author of the recent Smarter Homes for Independent Living: Putting People in Control of Their Lives report. The report has played a vital role in shifting the national discussion around social care and technology to a more ambitious vision that realises the potential for products and services to give people genuine agency, choice and control. The government has already accepted the report’s recommendation to update its guidance on the Disabled Facilities Grant to make it easier for disabled and older people to acquire technology to support their independence.
Clive is a member of the Department for Health and Social Care’s Digital Social Care Advisory Group. He is also a member of the British Assistive Technology Association’s governing council and established and chairs its Augmentative and Alternative Communication Special Interest Group. Clive writes the monthly assistive technology newsletter dispATches, which is hosted by the leading inclusive technology charity AbilityNet.
“Living with a disability is often about overcoming challenges. The hurdles we face are often – but not always – caused by disability. What disabled people share with everyone else is that while some adversities can be surmounted alone, we often discover that the solutions come from sharing in the knowledge, skills and kindness of other people. Just like everyone else, I possess talent and ambition. My disability has sometimes hidden these – as when my speech impairment has stood in the way of communicating my ideas. I put my successes in large part down to not just my intellect and skills but also my determination never to give up. But I am also fortunate to have been helped by many people along the way. There is a long list stretching from family and friends, to special teachers and personal assistants and colleagues and employers. It’s an honour to be part of the Power 100. I hope the stories that make up this list inspire other disabled people to succeed.”
