More details about the Leaders' List

The Learning Disability and Autism Leaders’ List Awards are the first of their kind. It’s an annual list featuring a variety of inspiring stories about an even wider variety of autistic people and people with learning disabilities who are taking a lead in their lives and making things better for themselves and others.

In previous years the List has officially been announced on BBC Radio 2’s The Jeremy Vine Show and The Guardian, and winners have been featured on Channel 5 News, The i, Pick Me Up, The Daily Express and their local newspapers.

Why does Dimensions, My Vote My Voice and VODG run the Leaders’ List?

We want to provide background lighting for autistic people and people with learning disabilities and autism to share their stories on a national platform. We also want to dispel negative myths and stereotypes about the autistic and learning disability communities.

Dimensions works with My Vote My Voice and VODG to represent and promote the Leaders’ List across the sector, fellow sector organisations and representatives and self-advocates across the country.

Backed by research

Dimensions research has revealed that 96% of respondents felt that everyone can learn something from people with learning disabilities and autism.

In addition, 84% said that people with learning disabilities and autistic people should be shown more in sports, arts and media, and 75% said that is easy for people in the wider community to forget about people with learning disabilities and autism, making initiatives such as the annual Leaders List all the more significant.

Recognitions like the Leaders’ List can ensure that people with learning disabilities and autism have increased representation.

Further research showed that 26% of respondents classified a crime against them as a hate crime because the person knew the respondent had a disability.

The Leaders’ List helps to address this by dispelling myths and challenging stigmas that are associated with learning disabilities.

Who can enter the Leaders’ List?

The Learning Disability and Autism Leaders’ List welcomes anybody who’s autistic or has a learning disability to enter or be nominated by somebody else.

We have Leaders who have profound and multiple learning disabilities, Leaders who don’t use spoken words to communicate and Leaders who have physical disabilities too.

We also have Leaders who are more independent and use their experience and kindness to help make the world a better place for other people.

We understand achievements are personal and we want to make sure everybody has the opportunity to celebrate and be celebrated equally.

All of our judges are autistic or have a learning disability themselves and we try to include a variety of people with different backgrounds and experiences on our judging panel.

If you are a winner

Unfortunately there can only be a select number of winners each year.

If you are a winner…

1. Your story and photographs will be published and shared nationally on our website, social media channels and with our PR and media connections.
2. We will send you an exclusive certificate, trophy and gift to celebrate.
3. You will get a VIP invite to our online celebration event.
4. We will continue to share opportunities for you to get involved in our campaigning, advocacy and media work.
5. You can continue to keep audiences up to date with guest blogs on our website and social media.
6. You will have the opportunity to be a judge in future Leaders’ Lists.

Getting involved in our national campaigns

Dimensions campaigns nationally on a number of issues, including autism inclusion, hate crime, democracy and healthcare.

By joining our Leaders’ List you will have the opportunity to get involved in some of our campaigning and lobbying work.

How much you continue to engage with Dimensions and our campaigns is your choice; we are just happy to welcome you into our network and provide you with opportunities you deserve.

Examples of Leaders being involved include…

James Walker and Love Your Vote

James doesn’t use spoken words to communicate but he is very active politically. He uses our free Dimensions Voting Passport and is a keen spokesperson on our campaign for fair and equal democracy.

Joanna Grace and the Leaders’ List

Jo is an autistic advocate and founder of The Sensory Projects. In 2020 she presented the special Covid Leaders’ List awards and has been published multiple times sharing her experiences of being a Leader and a judge for the Leaders’ List.

Max Green and #ImWithSam

Max is very active on social media and has, unfortunately, experienced hate crime. He presented at Dimensions Autism Summit in February 2022 to autistic experts and sector professionals. He also continues to support our campaign against hate crime by helping us develop training and resources.

Logan Rebello and autism friendly

Logan is autistic and has helped Dimensions write and develop our autism friendly venue training packages for cinemas, libraries and museums. He has met with representatives from all major cinema chains and is an active spokesperson on autism inclusion and media representation.