Olympic torchbearer

Daniel Bird’s story is one of the power to overcome. Daniel is autistic and has a receptive/expressive language disorder.

The keen, active sportsman has gained many accolades through his achievements. He is passionate about inclusive sport, health, well-being and inspiring others, as well as public speaking and charity fundraising.

Leading Light

The young sportsman volunteered as a sports coach for many years in the community and as a result was selected as a London 2012 Olympic torchbearer; and was one of just 70 people in the UK to be named as a Community Shining Light as part of the Olympic Legacy.

He received the Prestwich Special Recognition Award in 2013, won Disabled Sports Achiever of the Year in Bury 2012, 2014 & 2015. The young man was also selected to attend the Common Purpose Frontrunner leadership programme in 2015. Dan won the Pride of Bury Sporting Hero Award 2017.

He has completed eight marathons, all in under three hours and won the Club Championships Award three years running (ahem) at his running club.

Asked how it feels to be a Leaders’ List winner, Daniel said: “Wow, I feel really honoured to be selected as a Leaders List 2018 winner with Dimensions.

“I am grateful for the awards I have achieved so far in my career. In believing in yourself and trying your best, you can overcome barriers and achieve things!”

Daniel’s commitment to further his knowledge and continue his professional development is clear. In his own time, he has attained level three in Exercise and Disability fitness instruction as part of the Intractability programme.

He previously worked as a gym and activities instructor at a specialist school and he is also a community inclusive mentor with Activity Alliance, where he assists mainstream sport coaches to become more inclusive.

The talented young man also went on to college in Birmingham, earning a first class honours degree in Sport Coaching and School Sports. Throughout his education he was awarded Higher Education Student of the Year in 2015 and received a Student Excellence Award in 2016.

Dan now works fulltime at a specialist SEN school and college as an advanced support physiotherapy assistant, gaining further experience with sensory impairments, profound and multiple learning disabilities and profound communication difficulties.

Sportsman, coach and inspiration Dan is leading the way in sports and physiology. He has deservingly been described by his peers as an inspiring role model and an excellent human being.