"I graduated from Bangor university in 2008 with a 2:1 in Physical Geography. Bangor is where I was born and raised, more specifically I am from Maesgeirchen. As a disabled person, from a council estate despite growing up in a university city, I didn't even think I would get into university. Especially as social workers wanted to send me to a special school, which my mam put a stop to.
I then went onto study for a MA in Human Geography at Manchester University and then won a ESRC funded place to study for a PhD in Human Geography at Newcastle University. I went from having a strong interest in Geomorphology to Geographies of disability, which led me to where I am now.
Whilst I still have a keen interest in Geography, my work focuses more on cultural representations of disability, more specifically dwarfism and have published three books on the topic, including 'Dwarfism Arts and Advocacy: Creating Our Own Positive Identity', published by Emerald Publishers. As a result, as well as being a lecturer in Disability studies at Liverpool Hope University, I am also a consultant for Walt Disney studies. Most recently I was hired as a community consultant for the upcoming live action remake of Snow White. I am now currently consulting for the Hasbro company Wizard of the Coast.
As a result of my academic work, which influences my advocacy work, including consultancy, campaigning to get midget gems changed to Mini-gems, I have been featured in various Welsh media sources, including Pawb a'i farn, BBC Wales and Golwg.
Attending Bangor University helped me to get where I am now."
