Meet our spokespeople

Mark has more than 30 years’ experience in advocating for people with learning disabilities and autism, which he has lived experience of. He is currently Advocacy Lead for Dimensions UK, where he regularly speaks publicly about disability hate crime and is an advocate for people with learning disabilities and autism being treated equally. Prior to joining Dimensions UK, he worked for Values into Action, where he was responsible for developing the organisation’s policy around hate crime, human rights and individual budgets. In 2019 Mark was awarded an honorary doctorate in law from the University of Kent. In 2020 Mark received his MBE for his services to people with learning disabilities and autism. Mark is a Manchester United superfan and loves to garden and play Playstation in his spare time. He is also well known to enjoy a glass of Prosecco.

Ismail Kaji is Mencap’s Parliamentary & Government Engagement Officer & Spokesperson on Learning disability. He is passionate about making change and speaking to people like the government departments and charity sector and people with learning disability. He lives in Walthamstow with his family, and has his own home. Ismail has a good community of people where he always help others.

Gáibhin is an autistic self-advocate and Public Affairs and Policy Officer at United Response. He is a former carer for his brother and has worked across the UK’s and Ireland’s disability sectors. He previously worked on AsIAm’s successful campaign for Ireland’s first Autism Innovation Strategy, and has spoken internationally about the importance of delivering an EU-wide Autism Strategy.

James has Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and is a full time wheelchair user. He is classed Profound and multiple learning disabled (PMLD) and is non-verbal but uses eye gaze to communicate. Since 18, with reasonable adjustments, he has taken up his democratic right to cast his vote. He is one of Dimensions Learning Disability and Autism Leaders and he is an Electoral Observer.

Hannah Molloy is a neurodivergent young person. She works with United Response as an autism consultant, where she gets to be involved in different projects advocating for individuals with learning disabilities and those who are autistic. Hannah enjoys working on My Vote My Voice bringing together organisations with one similar goal in mind – making voting more accessible for those with disabilities! In her spare time she loves to watch musicals and be out in nature.

Alex has a learning disability and is supported by United Response. He is passionate about voting and people with a learning disability having their voice heard.

Ali is Director of Communications at United Response. She is a regular spokesperson on a wide range of issues such as accessible voting and democracy, disability hate crime, and social care.

Paula works with Dr Mark Brookes MBE and leads the Dimensions Public Affairs Team. She raises the voice of people with learning disabilities and/or autism on key issues such as care and support, health and employment and democratic participation, so policy makers consider their interests as part of the decision making process.

Shiu-Ming Man is a self-advocate living with cerebral atrophy. He has gained valuable experience working with people with additional needs in the London Borough of Richmond. His experience varies from being a volunteer youth worker, Vice Chair of the Richmond Youth Council and helping developing Peer group projects at disability charity Richmond AID. Now he has set up a politics group and employment support and advise group for people with additional needs. He has been to the house of parliament and the cabinet office to talk about easy read as well. He is also a self advocate for disabilities and mental health and are co-trainer for Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training for choice support and is a spokesperson for the My Vote My Voice campaign. He is also a Liverpool fan and play games on his PC in his free time.