Adam Clewes-Boyne Listed in Shaw Trust Disability Power 100

Game Republic member and head of BetaJester Adam Clewes-Boyne has become the only games developer listed in prestigious Shaw Trust Disability Power 100 2024.

Recognised for their work as a disability changemaker Adam is being celebrated as one of the 100 most influential disabled individuals in the UK and a leader in their field. The awards are publicly nominated and judged by a panel of 25 disabled champions including international business leader Dr Shani Dhanda, Chief Executive of Paralympics GB, David Clark and Coronation Street actor Cherylee Houston.

Adam has been recognised for their impact, innovation and influence in changing the perceptions and stereotypes of disability. Their work has included founding Playing Attention, the UK’s first support group for ADHD in the video games industry. Adam is also the co-founder of majority neurodivergent indie games studio BetaJester Ltd, He also reaches out to the industry by supporting and mentoring upcoming developers and students on their journey, alongside being an ambassador for the charity Safe In Our World, a accessibility committee member for mentoring group Limit Break, and a co-founder of the IGDA Neurodivergent in Games SIG.

Speaking about their award Adam said: “It is an honour to be nominated alongside the fantastic advocates and individuals. Everyone here fights for recognition and support alongside equality and inclusion, and I feel very privileged to be considered as one amongst them”.

National charity, Shaw Trust, runs the Disability Power 100 to raise the profile of disabled talent and challenge the disability employment gap head-on. Head of Disability Power 100, Alona De Havilland, says:

“The Disability Power 100 is all about creating change, it celebrates ambition and achievement, and plays a role in challenging society’s perceptions of disability by recognising the strengths, contributions and successes of 100 disabled individuals each year.”

She continues “We all need role models. People who are pioneers and changemakers. This year we witnessed our Team GB Paralympians rightly celebrated for their elite athleticism, sporting prowess and determination to succeed. The Disability Power 100 celebrates disabled role models with the same determination, expertise and ambition in all sectors from architecture to construction; finance to healthcare; transport to music. It is a rallying cry to future generations of leaders and a call for employers and society to recognise the talents and skills of disabled people.”

Development Director of Game Republic Dr Jackie Mulligan adds “This is a fantastic accolade for Adam who works so tirelessly to influence equality and inclusion – we are delighted to see this national recognition for a game developer in The North who has been a strong supporter of Game Republic over the years too. Well done Adam!”

Two others working in the games development sphere have been named in the list Lucinda Ritchie and Simon Mckewan.

Lucinda Ritchie is an Advanced Eye Gaze User and Charity Ambassador for SpecialEffect. Throughout childhood, Lucinda was constantly encouraged to do her best in everything she did and face any challenges head-on. This philosophy has been a major driving factor over the last few years – including in recent ventures and when assisting other people.

Approximately six years ago Lucinda became an Eye Gaze user after losing the ability to communicate verbally. As someone who had newly graduated in Geography and Environmental Studies with hopes of further study the following year, Lucinda was forced to put this hold while a new method of communication was found. Six months after losing her verbal communication, Lucinda trialled an Eye Gaze, and took to it instantly. Eye Gaze remains Lucinda’s main mode of communication mode now and she is currently studying MSc Sustainability.

Whilst growing up, gaming not only created a source of fun, but also an escape space. After Lucinda successfully became familiar with various different Eye Gaze set-ups, SpecialEffect, a charity helping disabled people game and access other areas, were contacted. Fortunately a solution was found for Lucinda to game again.

Lucinda explains “Since then I became an ambassador for this amazing charity, and it became clear that we have many of the same aims. We’ve worked on a number projects together, including with a telepresent robot – LucindaMobil.”

Simon Mckewan is Professor of Art at Teesside University. He explains “As a disabled person, my schooling did not accommodate my injuries, negatively affecting my education and confidence. This isolating experience forced me to focus on creativity and resilience. Family, friends, and the DIY punk movement came to the rescue. I completed a degree in Fine Art, driven by two inspiring art teachers. I developed a keen interest in video and digital arts while volunteering with a children’s disability charity, which I loved.

A few years later, I entered the emerging computer graphics industry in London, which was exciting. I transitioned to computer games and became a senior art director for ‘Driver’, one of Britain’s most successful games, selling millions worldwide.

Currently, I innovate in the disability space. As a Professor of Art at Teesside University, I’ve spent 15 years creating high-profile collaborative works with disabled artists, such as in St Helens and Cork, Ireland. ‘Cork Ignite’ was an innovative disability-inclusive public art event that attracted over 7,000 attendees.

I’m passionate about disability heritage and have developed an international project, ‘Images of Disability’. This project analyses and publicises a collection of artworks related to impairment, collected by Hanz Würtz in Berlin. Würtz’s collection is significant for shifting from a medical to a cultural perspective on impairments, uniquely connecting art and disability beyond a mere cabinet of curiosities.

Additionally, I created ‘The Carrying of Passengers is Forbidden’ project, focusing on the history of disability mobility in the UK. With a dedicated volunteer team, we’ve uncovered lost vehicles, records, and stories, celebrating these iconic vehicles. This research led me to become the voluntary Director of the Invalid Carriage Register and to appear on TV shows like the BBC’s Antiques Road Trip to popularise this history.”

The full list of 2024 finalists can be found at www.disabilitypower100.com.

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