Jonathan Andrews
Associate, Trustee and Equality Improvement Leader, Reed Smith, Ambitious about Autism and Mind
Jonathan Andrews is a solicitor who is changing the way disabled employees are recruited, represented and managed. Throughout his own recruitment and employment he has been completely open about his autism: introducing neurodiversity as a strength. He works towards a future where this openness is routine. He explains: “Emphasising the areas where my experiences have made me stronger have allowed me, and others, to aim high and demonstrate why disabled people, just like everyone else, should have a level playing-field and the chance to achieve on our own merit.”
Aged just 26, Jonathan has created national campaigns to promote more inclusive business practices and ensure other autistic young people have a fair chance. Jonathan is a committee member of Reed Smith’s international disability network LEADRS. As well as helping found the first-ever alumni initiatives at his old comprehensive, Jonathan speaks to thousands of school students about social mobility. He advocates for young disabled people, particularly around education, employment and mental health.
Jonathan also challenges better representation and visibility for LGBT+ people in the business and disabled communities. He was responsible for the Law Society’s first recognition of Bi Visibility Day in 2017 and founded the London Bisexual Network in 2015, now serving as co-chair. With Mind and Stonewall, Jonathan launched ‘Stand Bi Me’ – a mental health services toolkit educating services on bi-specific issues. As Mind’s first ever Equality Improvement Champion, he co-drafted their 2018 Disability Equality Toolkit, and works with a team of Equality Improvement Leaders.
Last year, Jonathan was recognised by the King’s College London ‘Distinguished Alumni Awards’, won the ‘Diversity & Inclusion’ Award at the LexisNexis Awards (the first individual to win what is usually a firm-wide category), was elected Chair of the Commonwealth Children and Youth Disability Network (“CCYDN”), and was recognised as the Law Society’s ‘Junior Lawyer of the Year’. This year, Jonathan has judged the Law Society Diversity Access Scheme – providing bursaries for aspirant lawyers from non-traditional backgrounds, including those with disabilities, to complete their training – and the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition. He was also selected as a 2020 ‘Local Leader’ by the Franco-British Council, highly commended as a ‘Neurodiverse Achiever of the Year 2020’ by Genius Within and, having achieved accreditation for the CCYDN as the Commonwealth’s first official disability youth network, represented the network directly with the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall at the 2020 Commonwealth Day Reception.
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“Emphasising the areas where my experiences have made me stronger have allowed me, and others, to aim high and demonstrate why disabled people, just like everyone else, should have a level playing-field and the chance to achieve on our own merit.”