Sophie Braithwaite
Founder & Executive Director
Sophie's route into this work started with her own experience. After years of fighting to get her needs met in education, she earned a place at university to study Occupational Therapy, wanting to help people like her live meaningful and fulfilling lives. In the final year of her BSc, she focused her studies on disability issues, including performing arts and deafness.
Inspired by her advocate, Abdul, Sophie went on to study an MSc in Disability Studies, Rights and Inclusion. She is due to graduate in 2027.
Alongside her studies, Sophie met many barriers at work because of her disabilities, while watching the political climate grow more hostile towards disabled people. The change she had hoped to make in her career felt close to impossible. Encouraged by her lecturers and their activism, she left traditional employment to build her own solution: DPAN.
Sophie also writes for the National Deaf Children's Society blog. She is a keen hobby photographer and a musical theatre fan.