Emily Rose Yates

In the summer of 2012, a few years before starting the final chaper of her degree at Queen Mary (University of London), Emily was a Games Maker at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. A proposal from the Games Media Centre has arrived shortly after, inviting her to take part in a press conference. Emily said 'yes' and was welcomed by tens of journalists waiting to ask questions. What she certainly did not expect was to be sat next to Lord Sebastian Coe!

Emily has openly discussed her views in regard to the Paralympics status, admiting the game was 'lifting the cloud of limitation' for those with disabilities. This was later requoted in the Paralympic Closing Ceremony Speech by Seb Coe himself, offering Emily the opportunity to put her love of writing, disability advocacy and travel together.

After intense networking, Emily is now working as an accessibility consultant for the Rio metro system in the run-up to the 2016 Games, and providing freelance training (Enhance the UK is a user-led disability charity, with the aim of dissolving taboos and reducing the 'fear factor' that surrounds disability.), access reviews and sex and relationship advice for her disabled peers. Emily's role includes reviewing and improving accessibility in all existing stations, taking into account different impairments and eventualities, as well as working with architects and manufacturers to ensure that all new stations that are being built before the 2016 Games are accessible for all.

Emily is currently in the process of launching her own business: 'My Purple Compass'. Many people with disabilities require mobility aids to make their lives easier, but these aids are often bulky, boring and a very clinical grey colour. She believes style should not just be saved for the able, and that everyone should have the opportunity to show off just how funky they are. The business will sell cool mobility aids and sex aids, and create a forum so that communities of people with disabilities have a place to chat about fashion, relationships, travel and the practicalities of everyday life.

In January 2016, the first documentary Emily has presented - 'Meet the Devotees' - was broadcasted on BBC3. The documentary explores the world of disability, sex and relationships, and questions why physical difference that is often seen as undesirable in mainstream society can be classed as a fetish or even a sexual orientation in today's underground world.

Emily lives with her boyfriend in the beautiful North Wales. Their current guilty pleasure is Wheelchair Ballroom Dancing.

'I am so fortunate to have been given so many wonderful opportunities, and each one has led to another. To anyone reading this, the only advice I can give is to urge you to say 'yes' to any exciting offer that is made to you; you never, ever know where it might lead!'