A trailblazer from Congleton has been praised for her work to improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of disabled people.

Dr Deborah Lawson has received the Leadership Excellence Award from the Centre for Leadership and Empowerment (CLE) at the University of Greater Manchester.

The award recognises Dr Lawson's commitment to advancing equity and empowerment for disabled people across the country.

She said: "I'm deeply humbled, it was such a huge shock and an incredible honour.

"The CLE, along with the fantastic Professor Christian Harrison and his team, does such phenomenal work advancing leadership and empowerment globally.

"To be recognised by such a leading authority in the field is truly one of the greatest honours.

"I've dedicated my life to driving change and equity for disabled people, and I hope this recognition helps to open up more opportunities for future disabled leaders to be seen, heard, and valued."

ALSO READ: Congleton disability champion looks to inspire children with debut picture book

Led by renowned Professor Christian Harrison, the CLE is internationally acclaimed for its research and education on leadership and empowerment.

The award was presented to Dr Lawson, the sole recipient, during the centre's Global Leadership Conference Gala Dinner.

Earlier in the conference, which was held in collaboration with the University of Greater Manchester, the University of Bradford, and the She Inspires Foundation, Dr Lawson took part as a panellist, sharing insights from her extensive work in accessibility and inclusive leadership on how to make leadership more inclusive for disabled people.

During the award presentation, Professor Harrison praised Dr Lawson's transformative influence, outstanding leadership, and inspiring commitment to equity and empowerment, noting the extraordinary scale of her impact on hundreds of thousands of lives and commending her dedication to advancing equality, accessibility, and empowerment across every sector over many years.

Dr Lawson, who also serves as chair of the Equal Access Group for Congleton Town Council, has long been a driving force for disability rights and inclusion across the UK and beyond.

She is widely acknowledged as one of the most influential disabled people in the country, with her work helping to improve access, equality, and opportunity for hundreds of thousands of disabled people.

A wheelchair user, Dr Lawson is passionate about ensuring that all disabled people are seen, respected, and given equal opportunity to thrive.

Her influence spans key national sectors including healthcare, housing, education, retail, fashion, public policy, accessibility, and children's literature.