Emma Sheardown

World Champion & Disability Inclusion Expert Founder, Disability Confidence Training

Introduction:

Born with Quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy and told she would never walk or talk, Emma Sheardown became a World and European Para Dressage Champion. Today, she transforms organisations’ approach to disability inclusion through powerful keynote speaking and practical training programmes.

Expertise & Impact:

Specialises in delivering disability confidence training and motivational speaking that empowers businesses to provide exceptional service to customers with disabilities. Emma combines her elite sports background with lived experience to challenge perceptions and create lasting organisational change.

Speaking Style:

Authentic and impactful, Emma shares personal triumphs and practical insights to inspire action and build confidence around disability inclusion.

Signature Topics:

  • There’s No Such Word As Can’t
  • Creating Disability-Confident Customer Service Teams
  • Accessibility: Your Business Advantage
  • From World Champion to Business Transformer
  • Building an Inclusive Society

Additional Expertise:

  • Disability awareness training,
  • Customer service excellence,
  • Accessibility consulting,
  • Motivational speaking.

Perfect For:

  • Corporate training programmes
  • Customer service teams
  • Leadership conferences
  • Diversity & inclusion events
  • Educational institutions

Career Highlights:

  • World and European Para Dressage Champion
  • TEDx Speaker
  • Published Author
  • Great Britain Performance Squad
  • Trusted by Vodafone, National Grid, Royal British Legion
  • Emma has just published The Little Book of DisAbility (2025). This is a pocket guide to achieving disability inclusion.

Key Message:

“There is always ability whenever you see disability!“

Impact Story: 

“When the whole audience leapt to their feet to applaud this amazing woman at #TEDxPeterborough the hairs stood on the back of my arms… Emma Sheardown’s story is a truly inspirational, empowering one. Emma is driven to succeed and she never gives up. Right from the start, she captivated the audience. Her courage, determination and natural affinity with horses shines through in her talks, as does her will to succeed and break down barriers to end the stigma around disability. I would recommend anyone looking for a great speaker to book Emma for the gig. Professional, down-to-earth and with the greatest attention to detail when it comes to serving her audience. When I see Emma in action she demonstrates perfectly that there is “no such word as can’t”.”
– Asha Clearwater – Curator of TEDx Peterborough