Month: April 2025

Accessibility consultant Shelley Cowan has launched a new web app to help people with a disability find and book accommodation that meets their access needs.

TravelEase is the latest initiative from Shelley Cowan, a tech founder and accessibility consultant whose work is rooted in lived experience and data-driven research.

The platform has been developed in response to widespread barriers within the travel and tourism sectors. Based on Shelley’s own experiences as a wheelchair user and her postgraduate research into accessibility in hospitality, the app introduces a user-friendly grading system that helps travellers understand whether a venue meets specific needs such as step-free access, hoists, under-bed clearance and other essential features.

“Travel should be an opportunity for exploration, enjoyment, and freedom, yet for millions of people with a disability, it remains an exhausting and frustrating challenge,” Shelley said.

“TravelEase, an innovative new app, is set to change that by making fully accessible accommodation easy to find, book, and verify.”

According to Shelley’s research, 90 percent of people surveyed were unable to find suitable destinations or accommodation, and 100 percent reported challenges when travelling. For those with complex disabilities, it takes an average of two months to source adequate accommodation, requiring extensive research, phone calls, and uncertainty.

“While pet-friendly accommodations are widely available, fully accessible accommodations remain extremely limited,” Shelley explained. “This lack of options forces many travellers with accessibility needs to either compromise on their requirements or abandon travel altogether. The result? Missed opportunities for both individuals and businesses.”

Shelley, who previously spent more than a decade using a wheelchair, said the issue is deeply personal.

“As a person with a disability, I have faced countless barriers, including the need to purchase a £1,200 portable hoist just to be able to stay overnight safely,” she said.

TravelEase is designed for a wide range of users, including people with reduced mobility, older travellers, and those with young children. It is built to support informed decision-making and reduce the risks associated with inaccessible or misleading accommodation listings.

Driven by her findings, Shelley has developed a grading system that enables people with reduced mobility to easily identify accommodations that meet their specific needs. “Whether someone requires a hoist, step-free access, or under-bed clearance, TravelEase ensures that accessibility is not an afterthought – it’s a guarantee,” Shelley explained.

Shelley’s work through TravelEase is part of her wider mission to improve accessibility through advocacy, education, and business consultancy. She is the founder of Access Avenue, an accessibility consultancy that supports organisations to better understand the needs of people with a disability and implement practical, meaningful improvements.

Through Access Avenue, Shelley advises public, private and third-sector organisations on inclusive design, accessibility grading, and service provision. Her work is grounded in lived experience and supported by academic study, including a first-class MSc in International Business.

Shelley is also Northern Ireland’s first Purple Tuesday National Community Ambassador. In this role, she promotes the importance of inclusive customer experience and works alongside the global campaign to raise awareness of the barriers people with a disability face when accessing services.

“Travel non-participation due to accessibility barriers is costing the economy millions and preventing millions of people from living a fulfilling lifestyle,” Shelley said. “Businesses are missing out on the Purple Pound – the spending power of people with a disability, currently valued at £274 billion annually in the UK.”

Shelley’s wider advocacy work is supported by her growing career as a keynote speaker. Represented by the Self Made Speaking Academy, she regularly delivers talks across the UK and internationally, sharing insight on disability rights, accessibility, innovation, and lived experience. Her keynote topics are shaped by personal and professional insight, and include themes such as her journey from adversity to advocacy, the untapped potential of accessibility for people, businesses and society, and the human impact of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence.

Shelley has addressed audiences including International Rotary Clubs, community transport conferences, hospitality forums, and International Women’s Day events. Her talks are informed by more than 30 years of lived experience as a person with a disability and are grounded in research and practical understanding of accessibility challenges.

She was previously selected for Ireland’s TechFoundHer programme, a tech pre-accelerator for women-led start-ups. Her story has been featured in awareness campaigns such as Hear Us Roar and Island Voices, and she continues to contribute to conversations around disability, innovation and social change.

“Accessible travel is not just about meeting basic needs – it is an opportunity for innovation, economic growth, and social inclusion,” Shelley said. “While the tourism industry has embraced pet-friendly travel, it’s time to prioritise accessibility with the same commitment. By failing to accommodate travellers with accessibility needs, businesses are turning away a multi-billion-pound market.”

The launch of TravelEase is the latest step in Shelley’s ongoing campaign to challenge inaccessibility across sectors and support businesses to become more inclusive. As both a consultant and campaigner, she continues to call for greater transparency, industry standards and structural reform across hospitality, tourism, transport and public services.

To find out more about TravelEase, keynote bookings, or accessibility consultancy through Access Avenue, go to accessavenue.co.uk.

Global female trailblazers in technology, innovation, and investment are set to take to the stage next month for the third annual TechFoundHer Summit.

The event will take place on May 14 at the Mansion House in Dublin with a series of Runway to Summit events happening in advance including a dynamic lunchtime Town Hall in Belfast on April 16.

Keynote speaker for the summit is Kelly Vero, the game developer behind Tomb Raider and Halo 3, and a pioneer in the metaverse, NFTs,  AI-led product design and a global voice for ethical innovation.

Kelly Vero’s new book Breaking Through Bytes profiles pioneering STEM women from ancient Egypt to the modern games industry.

Joining Kelly are a series of local and international investors, founders, and visionaries reshaping industries and investment models.

TechFoundHer founder Co Down businesswoman Mairin Murray said the event is a “powerful global gathering that’s flipping the script on who gets to lead in tech.”

She added: “This isn’t just another tech event, it’s a high-energy, purpose-driven gathering for women building and scaling tech solutions to solve real-world problems. 

“This year, the message is clear – the future of tech must be diverse, daring, and include women.

“This summit is about unleashing vision and imagination

“It’s for women who want to tackle real-world problems with powerful tech tools – and have some fun doing it.”

Also taking to the stage are international speakers and entrepreneur Lata Setty, a serial tech innovator turned investor and venture capitalist who leverages her expertise in science, tech, law and business to rocket fuel female founded startups. 

Former European boxing champion for GB turned tech founder Lesley Sackey will be speaking about how she’s building AI-powered platforms for survivors of domestic abuse.

While American investors and star of Show Her The Money Wendy Ryan will be discussing the importance of reshaping venture capital by backing women and BIPOC founders.

The summit will also see Irish tech leaders from across the island and beyond join the lineup including Dr Patricia Scanlon, Áine Kerr, Barbara McCarthy, Áine Denn, and Naomh McElhatton.

The event is expected to see over 300 women-led startups, funders and tech allies attend to join the conversation on everything from Tech Has No Gender (From Ada Lovelace to AI: inclusive innovation starts here), TechProduct Innovation (Go beyond the hype to get real-world strategies from global experts), Breaking Through (What it takes to grow your startup from kitchen table to IPO), Funding Forward (Demystifying the funding landscape, from angel to VC) and Women Innovators Rise (A spotlight on homegrown tech talent across the island).

With only 2% of global VC funding going to women, the summit will support attendees to spark connections, unlock funding pathways, and make women-led innovation visible and unstoppable.

Supported by Dublin City Council, it offers an opportunity for women across the tech ecosystem in Ireland to feel centred, supported and celebrated.

Mairin added: “The Summit is about inspiring women to step boldly forwards and use tech to solve big juicy real world challenges. 

It’s about motivating women to go for the moonshot  – and to realise that tech is the catalyst – it’s the easy bit once you are clear on your vision. Everyone can innovate with tech no matter their background or previous experience.

“The TechFoundHer Summit is not about tech – it’s about vision and imagination – it’s for those who want to solve big problems and improve our world. 

“Tech is your superpower to make it happen and scale your impact. It’s so powerful and it’s also lots of fun – but too often we’re told as women that tech is not for us -and we can feel like we don’t belong.

“It’s time to reimagine and redesign what tech innovation looks like and create a positive environment with the right tools, insights and role models – that’s where the magic happens. You don’t need to be a coder to start a tech company – tech is the easy bit once you have a roadmap and the right contacts.”

At this year’s TechFoundHer Summit in Dublin attendees will also meet the island-wide graduates of TechFoundHer’s Innovation Labs – a programme designed to make tech accessible, impactful, and inclusive. 

Other key supporters of the 2025 Summit include U.S. Bank Europe as Network Sponsor and WITS (Women in Technology & Science Ireland) as Community Sponsor. 

The TechFoundHer Innovation Labs Programme, which nurtures early-stage women-led tech ventures across the island, was proudly supported by InterTradeIreland (in partnership with Invest Northern Ireland and Enterprise Ireland) through the Shared Island Enterprise Scheme and included KPMG Ireland as the lead sponsor.

Leading up to the main summit there will be a series of Runway to Summit events taking place starting with a Belfast Town Hall at Microsoft HQ in City Quays on Wednesday April 16 from 1-2pm.

Hosted by Mairin it will shine a spotlight on women tech innovators from across Northern Ireland and beyond.

For more information go to techfoundher.com or book your tickets on Eventbrite.

Individuals from Newcomer Communities are being urged to take part in a Belfast City Council consultation, as the deadline to complete the survey has been extended and two additional in-person events will take place this week.

The Mind Tribe UK, who are leading the research, are encouraging anyone with lived experience or working with Newcomer Communities to either attend one of the consultation sessions or fill in the online survey before the extended deadline closes.

The Mind Tribe UK have been appointed by Belfast City Council to lead a new research and consultation project aimed at identifying the barriers faced by individuals from Newcomer Communities in accessing entrepreneurial support.

The project will involve 10 consultation events, a mix of virtual and face-to-face sessions, along with a digital survey engaging individuals from Newcomer Communities, enterprise support organisations, and community integration services to gather insights that will inform future support provision. The findings are then to be compiled into a final report with recommendations for Belfast City Council.

Katie Matthews Furphy, founder of The Mind Tribe UK, was awarded the contract due to her experience in business, mental health, inclusive training, and leadership. As an entrepreneur with lived experience as a disabled, female, in-migrant business owner with Travelling community heritage, she brings a unique perspective to the consultation process.

Speaking of the contract win she said: “I’m incredibly proud to be doing this work because inclusive economic growth is not just an aspiration – it’s a necessity for a thriving and diverse society. 

“Everyone, regardless of their background or circumstances, deserves the opportunity to explore their entrepreneurial potential and build a future for themselves, and through this research and consultation project we will explore entrepreneurial support pathways for Newcomer Communities, including Refugees, individuals seeking Asylum, and Migrants. 

“It’s fantastic to see Belfast City Council championing this kind of work, and I feel truly honoured to be delivering it.”

The consultation builds on the work of the Inclusive Enterprise Pathway, a programme designed and delivered by The Mind Tribe UK over the past 21 months. 

Commissioned by Belfast City Council, the pathway is the first dedicated council initiative in Northern Ireland specifically focused on supporting minority and marginalised groups who have been historically under-represented and under-supported within mainstream enterprise programmes.

“The Inclusive Enterprise Pathway is the first, dedicated council pathway in Northern Ireland specifically focused on supporting minority and marginalised groups who have been historically excluded from traditional entrepreneurial spaces and programmes, as well as under-represented, under-supported and under-funded within the entrepreneurial ecosystem,” explained Katie. 

“The pathway ensures that individuals who may experience additional barriers to enterprise can access the tailored support, develop the skills, and build the confidence they need to succeed in entrepreneurship.”

Recent data from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) UK National Report 2024 highlights the significance of this work. 

It revealed “Immigrant and ethnic minorities are consistently the most entrepreneurial groups in UK society since the start of the new millennium”. 

However, the report also explained that volatility in immigrant Total Early-Stage Entrepreneurial Activity (TEA) rates is possibly subject to immigration policy and the female-to-male TEA ratio has widened, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic, when the gap widened to 57%, compared to 72% in 2019. 

The report suggests this may be due to “employment dynamics in the wider economy, with many migrant women potentially more easily able to secure jobs in more female-dominated sectors, such as healthcare, that have had a very high demand for migrant workers in recent years.”

Belfast City Council’s decision to commission this research demonstrates a commitment to addressing these challenges and ensuring that individuals from Newcomer Communities can access the entrepreneurial opportunities available in the city.

The consultation events will take place across Belfast and online, ensuring accessibility for a wide range of participants. A digital survey will also be available for those unable to attend these consultation events.

“We want to hear directly from those with lived experience,” said Katie. 

“Their voices are crucial in shaping recommendations that will lead to practical and effective support measures.”

Belfast City Council is encouraging individuals from Newcomer Communities, enterprise support organisations, and community groups to take part in the consultation.

The deadline for survey responses has now been extended. Two additional in-person consultation events have also been announced, offering more opportunities for people to share their views.

To fill in the survey or sign up for a consultation session, visit bit.ly/MindTribeConsultation