Access Avenue

The Access Avenue logo, featuring a gold atom symbol on a transparent background. The text "Access Avenue" is below the symbol, with the tagline "Inclusive, Sustainable Futures" underneath.
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Hi I'm

Shelley
Cowan

I’m an inspiration speaker & an accessibility consultant, champion & researcher

Promoting inclusive, sustainable futures

A woman with long blonde hair smiles warmly for the camera. She is wearing a purple blazer.

Mission

Creating an accessible, inclusive and sustainable world for everyone

Events

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Advice, knowledge & experience

About
Me

I have had Severe Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (M.E) for almost 30 years. During this time I was confined to bed for 12 years and required a wheelchair for a further decade. Throughout my illness I experienced numerous access and discrimination challenges which inspired me to create Access Avenue, advocating for better accessibility and equity of opportunities for everyone. Despite my challenges, I remain resilient and committed to changing society’s perceptions of disability and accessibility to empower others. My dream is Inclusive, Sustainable Futures For All.

"A smiling blonde woman in a purple top and black blazer stands in a grassy area holding a purple sign that reads 'Accommodation for All' with the Access Avenue logo. She's positioned next to a large red heart-shaped sculpture. In the background, there's a river or canal and a row of colorful houses. The scene suggests a picturesque small town or village setting."

01

Advocator

As a dedicated advocate for disability rights, I actively contribute to the Fermanagh community and the wider society. I founded the group JustUs in 2020 to provide adults with disabilities inclusive and accessible social events and organised the first ‘Proud to be Me’ event during Disability Awareness Month in 2024. I was recognised for my community contributions being awarded The Impartial Reporter’s Community Champion of the Year 2024.

Following research I launched the campaign ‘Accommodation for All’ in 2024 to highlight the lack of facilities available to people with disabilities within travel and tourism, particularly hospitality.

I have recently been appointed as Northern Ireland’s first Purple Tuesday Ambassador.

Purple tuesday ambassador logo
The image features a person wearing a graduation gown, The individual is celebrating their academic achievements, as indicated by the mortarboard hat and diploma.

02

Graduate

I am a well-rounded graduate with a strong academic and professional background in business and accessibility.

I earned a Social Science Access Diploma in 2016, followed by distinctions in both a Business Foundation Degree (2018) and Business Degree (2020). In 2023, I achieved a First-Class Honours MSc in International Business, focusing on accessibility within the hospitality industry. I hold an OCN in Business (2024) and have completed various specialised training, including Access Audit NI, EDI and Disability Awareness. I’m also trained in Walk Leader, Emergency First Aid and Safeguarding Adults.

A group of seven people standing on a metal platform or walkway in a foggy, rocky landscape. They are holding a large purple and black banner that reads 'JUSTUS!' with the subtitle 'Hosting regular social events for adults with disabilities'. The group members are dressed in warm outdoor clothing of various colors.

03

Charitable

I am deeply committed to charitable work, focusing on supporting individuals with disabilities. I’ve run a marathon on an anti-gravity treadmill, raising £1,250 for Buddy Bear Conductive Education School for children with cerebral palsy, and completed the Culicagh Mountain ‘Stairway to Heaven’ Challenge, raising £3,700 for the group JustUs, which I set up in 2020.

JustUs is a group with charitable objectives, hosting regular inclusive and accessible events for adults with disabilities. JustUs empowers individuals to integrate more effectively into the wider community, experience equitable social opportunities and reach their full potential in life.

A white teddy bear sitting on a pink star surrounded by smaller colorful stars. The text "Buddy Bear Trust Conductive Education School"
A circular image with a black background. The word "JUSTUS!" is written in neon pink and green letters, surrounded by a glowing neon ring and colorful sparks
A group of four people are standing in front of a dark background. They are all smiling and looking at the camera. The person on the left is a man in a white shirt and black vest. He is holding a microphone. The person in the center is a woman with short gray hair and a black dress. She is holding a microphone. The person on the right is a woman with long blonde hair and a red dress. She is holding a microphone. The person on the right is a woman with long blonde hair and a blue and white patterned dress. She is holding an award. The award is a gold and blue plaque with a heart shape cut out of the center. The plaque states "Monthly Reporter Community Champion Awards 2024" and is presented by an organization called "encirc". The image is likely taken at an awards ceremony where the woman in the red dress is receiving an award for being a community champion.

04

Speaker

I regularly deliver speeches at events and conferences to discuss accessibility, inclusion and disability related topics regarding challenges, research findings and change advocacy.

I also speak about my illness, lived experience, challenges and opportunities to give hope and inspire others to overcome adversity.

The Rotary International logo, featuring the word "Rotary" in blue and the iconic Rotary wheel symbol in gold.
A blue banner with pointed ends, reading "THE PUBLIC EYE PODCAST.
A circular logo with a blue border and a black center. The text "M4G" is in the center, surrounded by the words "Educate," "Encourage," "Empower" in a clockwise direction. Below the circle is the text "Advocacy Media.
The Fermanagh Community Transport logo, featuring a blue curved line symbolizing movement and a green "Fermanagh" text with "Community Transport" below in blue.
A photo album page with several postcards arranged in a grid. The postcards depict various destinations around the world, including a city skyline, a lake, a mountain village, the Great Pyramids and Sphinx, a glacier in Antarctica, a beach in Florida, the Colosseum in Rome, and a harbor scene

05

Travels

Having been unable to travel for almost two decades due to illness I now have “The Travel Bug”

During the years that I was confined to bed my family and friends send postcards from all corners of the world from Portrush to London to Australia to Vietnam and Antarctica. Hundreds of postcards covered the walls around my bed. I imagined myself being able to one day visit each of these countries. As I’m improving my dream of travelling is becoming increasingly possible. I love going on adventures and trips to explore new places and activities, meet new people and experience different cultures.

I’ve been called the ‘Local Tourist Board’ and the ‘Brown Sign Girl’

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My
Blog

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A purple square with white text that reads "Everyone Deserves The Right To Travel." Four white stick figures stand together, including one in a wheelchair. Below the text is the logo "Access Avenue" and the tagline "Inclusive, Sustainable Futures.

Everyone deserves the right to travel

October 14, 2024 Comment (0)
A purple square with white text stating "95% of venues lack disability-related strategies, adversely impacting profitability." There is a white wheelchair symbol between two hands below the text. The bottom right corner displays the "Access Avenue" logo and the tagline "Inclusive, Sustainable Futures."

Inclusive strategies are invaluable!

October 8, 2024 Comment (0)
A purple square with white text stating "90% of wheelchair users are unable to source effective destinations or accommodation." There is a white wheelchair symbol below the text. The bottom right corner displays the "Access Avenue" logo and the tagline "Inclusive, Sustainable Futures.

All international wheelchair users interviewed stated they felt neglected by minimal hospitality accessibility achievements.

October 8, 2024 Comment (0)

I have a dream, inclusive, sustainable futures for all

Shelley cowan

Upcoming
Events

See me at the following events. Hope to see you there

London, GB

World Travel Market

05/11/24 – 07/11/24

World Travel Market London is home to the world’s travel trade – the most influential travel and tourism event globally.

Enniskillen, NI

Hope, Heal & Growth Conference

11/1/25

Inspirational interview for celebration of hope in aid of the Aisling Centre

England, GB

Accessible world (Hotel Designs Magazine )

23/06/25

Discussion panel for accessibility within the hospitality industry

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