About Me
“I’m just a rhino standing before you, asking you to accelerate inclusive, accessible change.“
Hi, my name’s Jamie Shields. I describe myself as a Registered Blind AuDHD Rhino. Yes, a Rhino. Why, you might ask? Well, rhinos are just chubby unicorns with bad eyesight. Don’t believe me? Google it.
Rhinos have the power to shape ecosystems. Just like a rhino, I want to change the disabling systems in society that exclude, discriminate, and forget Disabled People. People who have been, for far too long, Disabled by Society.
Ocular Albinism with Nystagmus…
Or in non-medical terms, I am the same as an albino, only with pigmentation and my eyes like to go for uncontrolled walks. I’m also Autistic and ADHD.
For years I allowed the ableism of society to control the narrative of my internalised ableism. I believed being Disabled was a shameful thing. That it made me weak. That I was a problem to be solved. Little did I know that society is the problem. Lack of education about Disability is the problem. Failure to create inclusive accessible workplaces, education systems, healthcare systems, failures that have led to us being Disabled by Society.
Awards & Recognition
In 2023, I was named on the Shaw Trust Disability Power 100 list, recognised among the 100 most influential Disabled individuals in the UK. That same year, I earned a spot on the Inclusive Employers Diversity Power List for my contributions to DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion).
Being acknowledged alongside so many remarkable individuals always feels surreal. Despite these accreditations, I’ll always identify as the rhino from Belfast who found the courage to say, “No longer will I be Disabled by Society”.
Content Creator
I create content on LinkedIn inspired by my lived experiences.
No, I am not an influencer. I educate and create content to spark conversations, to demystify often-overcomplicated discussions, and to accelerate inclusive accessible change. The graphics I create are used across the world, in schools, colleges, universities, workplaces, and even as posters in public libraries.
What started as me sharing some thoughts on LinkedIn soon saw me on the first UK LinkedIn Creator Accelerator Programme, and today having now built a network of 34K+ people.
Disabled by Society
It took 28 years of being Disabled and an Autism and ADHD diagnosis for me to finally learn, “the problem isn’t me, it is a society not designed for myself and others like me…”
A society that Disables. A society that views Disability as a problem to solve, rather than part of the human experience. A society ingrained with ableism, so much so it’s ingrained in our language, our behaviours, and our beliefs.
Today I share my lived experience to educate and act as a catalyst for change. I share my experiences to stop others being Disabled by Society and to help organisations accelerate inclusive, accessible change. I share my lived experiences to accelerate inclusive accessible change!