Meet our Accessibility Panel

Dr Amy Kavanagh is an award winning disability consultant, activist and campaigner. She uses social media to share her lived experience navigating the world as a blind Londoner alongside her Guide Dog Ava. Amy has recently become a mother and believes in the need for greater representation and discussion of disabled parenthood. Amy is committed to celebrating disability, mobility aids and encouraging others to learn about the social model of disability.

Amy’s disability and social justice activism includes issues varying from public transport, digital inclusion, violence against women and girls, access to museums and the arts, LGBTQ+ rights and employment equality. Amy is also a community builder and created an online inclusive space for disabled people during the pandemic to socialise and learn skills.

Through her activism and role as a disability consultant Amy has engaged with organisations including Friends of the Earth, Sony, Living Streets, Govia Thameslink Railway, Wellcome, LW Theatres, Elect Her and the BBC.

Sarah is an Accessibility Specialist, with a particular focus on transport. Sarah doesn’t drive so she relies on rail to travel all over the country for work and fun! She has been passionate about supporting the development of the Passenger Assistance app since she got involved in testing the product in 2018. Sarah’s focus, personally and professionally, is to support projects which enhance disabled passengers’ customer experience.

Chloe Tear is an award-winning disability blogger, freelancer and public speaker. Chloe is particularly interested in public attitudes towards disability. She also works part-time for Scope as a content designer. In this role, she writes information and advice that supports disabled people and their families to live the life they choose. Most weekends you can find Chloe on a train, travelling to see friends and family.

Jennie Berry, also known as @Wheelie_Good_life, is a 29-year-old disabled travel content creator who documents her life as a wheelchair user online to her audiences of over 100,000 followers. Jennie is an avid traveller, and uses her platform to speak about how she navigates public transport, holidays and work trips as a wheelchair user, as well as calling for better accessibility accommodations throughout. As well as this, Jennie is Head of Community at Sociability App, an app that helps disabled people find accessible places.

Tanvi Vyas is a freelance Disability Equality Consultant and Trainer with a particular interest in improving access to transport, leisure and the built environment. Tanvi raises the profile of challenges faced by disabled people, sharing her lived experience. She is keen to embed accessibility, diversity and inclusion in policy and practice and is a Trustee for Muscular Dystrophy UK.

Eleanor Lisney FRSA MA MSIS is a founder member of Sisters of Frida and Culture Access. She was born and bred in Malaysia, and has lived in the UK, France, and the USA. She used to travel a good deal but lately travel has not been an option. Her favourite mode of travel is by train, and she has done that in various countries, including China, Norway, and Italy. She writes on intersectional issues as a disabled woman of colour and is passionate about campaigning for social justice and inclusion.

Based in the North East with work, family and friends across the UK and Isle of Man, Jasper (sign name ‘badger’) navigates various forms of transport and assistance on a weekly basis - from trains to ferries! He uses his social media platforms to bring awareness to healthcare, transport and society barriers as a Deaf signer, wheelchair user and autistic man. Jasper founded WheelieQueer, a disability benefits advisory service, also delivering LGBTQ+, Deaf and disability inclusion training nationally. He has been shortlisted for 2 disability activism Scope awards.

Simon Wheatcroft is an endurance adventurer, award-winning educator, and accessibility consultant. He has consistently pushed the boundaries of what is possible. Simon began his journey in endurance adventuring. Using an iPhone and an audio-based running app, Simon learned to train solo as a blind runner, which quickly transitioned into competing in ultra-distance events. By partnering with leading technology companies, Simon developed new technologies and pushed his limits to become the first blind person to cross a desert solo. During this time, Simon also established a consultancy, working with developers and designers to integrate accessibility into the development lifecycle. From iOS to web and physical hardware, Simon has ensured that inclusivity is at the forefront.

In particular, Simon concentrated on improving navigational technologies and exploring different modalities to aid in navigation.

Transitioning into the educational sector, Simon taught computer science at a local secondary school and won the National Teaching Award for Outstanding Teacher. Currently, Simon works full-time as an accessibility consultant, collaborating with developers and designers to ensure that accessibility by design is at the forefront of all systems.

Simon continues to train using technology and travels across the UK and the world as a public speaker, sharing his experiences on the power of creating accessible technology.

Jamie is rehab therapist by trade but since 2011 has focused on Disability Rights campaigning & activism, his main drive has always been empower other Disabled people to know & access their rights especially within transport, health & social security.

Jamie learnt computer code 14 & research skills at university before serious accident at 25, Jamie also advocates the wider availability & use of Assisted tech including AR (augmented reality) his wheels can mainly be found at Parliament, British Library, TFL & his local grassroots Disabled people’s organisation where he Co-chairs transport & mobility forum in south West London.

Victoria is a disability advisor, campaigner and activist.

As a Disabled and Deaf BSL user, her main focus is best practices for Inclusive Communication.

She is passionate about educating those who are willing to learn, inlcuding firefighters, police officers, bus drivers, and school children.

Victoria is an advisor for the London Fire Brigade, Met Police and TfL buses.

Her roles take her travelling across London on all forms of transport, and she is passionate about accessible travel from a Deaf perspective.

In her spare time, she enjoys visiting musuems and developing her knitting skills.

In loving memory of Alan Benson who passed away in 2023. Alan was not only a remarkable disability activist and advocate but will also be remembered for his kindness and humour. Alan was a valued member of our accessibility panel and provided support to many Transreport colleagues both personally and professionally, his loss is felt deeply.

Alan will be best remembered for his unwavering activism, his compassionate heart, and the positive changes he brought into this world. Alan’s spirit and contributions will forever be a part of our journey.

Alan was a disability campaigner and activist with a particular interest in transport. He was a member of London TravelWatch, was Chair of Transport for All, a Trustee of Richmond RUILS and a Citizen Advocate supporting Disabled and Older People. He was a regular tweeter and blogged about his journeys when time allowed. Before turning to campaigning, Alan was an I.T. Manager at various colleges and universities across the country for over 20 years. He held two degrees in Economics and lived in West London.