University News Last updated 26 November
A BCU Nursing graduate has launched a disability consultancy business to raise awareness around different disabilities, including those that are hidden such as brain injuries and accessibility issues.
Dawn Quick and her husband Peter have set up No Boundaries Disability Consultancy Ltd, inspired by their time serving as Nurses in the Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service.
When asked about her inspiration for this business venture, Dawn said: “I have always found that when people talk about equality, diversity and inclusivity, disabilities come last on the list of considerations. And so, together, my husband and I both created No Boundaries Disability Consultancy Ltd.
“My new business venture amalgamates both my previous nursing career, military background and astuteness, together with my knowledge on the law, including the Equality Act.”
Dawn graduated from BCU in 2013 after having successfully obtained a BSc in Military Nursing, having joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) as a fully qualified Registered Adult Nurse. Whilst studying part-time, she would be sent away on exercises or deployment.
She said: “This made the course a little bit longer but wasn’t an issue.The lecturers were always supportive and helpful, always giving feedback and answering questions.”
She then served in the military for ten years, serving in both the Royal Navy and the RAF, until she was medically discharged with service attributable injuries affecting her mobility.
“If I had my chance again, I would do it all again in a heartbeat,” Dawn said. “I had the most incredible experiences, such as swimming in the ocean surrounded by dolphins and visiting countries that are only ever seen on the TV. In the RAF, I trained to do aeromedical evacuations which involved collecting injured servicemen and women from around the world.
“From a nursing perspective, nursing in the military gives you so many more opportunities. Not just from a working perspective, such as the ability to specialise in clinical specialities, but also being able to go on adventure training.”
Dawn met her husband Peter, an A&E nurse, whilst they were both in the RAF. She was specialising in neuro rehabilitation, looking after patients with long term neurological conditions, or had suffered some form of brain injury.
After leaving the RAF, Dawn worked as part of the Community Neuro Rehabilitation Team at a local NHS Trust, looking after patients with long term neurological conditions.
Alongside this role, Dawn also took part in inspections with the Care Quality Commission as a Specialist Nurse Advisor. She has also acted as a School Governor, being the Link Governor for Special Educational Needs including both learning difficulties and learning disabilities. Dawn now works in the legal sector helping people with disabilities.
Dawn has a strong passion for justice and therefore, this has been her driving force and motivation towards bringing awareness to the barriers those with disabilities face.
No Boundaries Disability Consultancy Ltd, which is based in Stratford upon Avon, Warwickshire, was launched to meet the gap in the market for businesses to assess their disabled access.
Dawn said she and her husband “have often been frustrated by how difficult it is for people with a variety of disabilities to access everyday activities.”
She said: “Whether it is being able to get to work, go shopping, or stay in a hotel, the difficulties faced often have simple solutions.
“It is from having seen excellent examples of good practice accommodating disabilities in hotels, tourist attractions and shopping areas, that have motivated us by sharing these positive experiences with other businesses.”
No Boundaries Disability Consultancy Ltd provides interactive training to raise disability awareness and carries out accessibility audits.
Dawn said: “I'd say that the most challenging aspect so far has been trying to work out how to set up and run a business. However, we have fortunately had some incredible support from both the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce and also Heropreneurs, which is a military charity supporting veterans in setting up and establishing their own business.”
Her proudest moment in her career so far was being invited to The Shard in London by Heropreneurs to hear more about her new business.
She said: “It was a very surreal moment, to actually have been personally invited to attend a business function within our first couple of months since launching was incredibly exciting.”
Long term, Dawn would like to roll out company out on an international scale: “I have an overwhelming passion to make the world a more equal, fair and accessible place for all.”
Dawn’s advice to her fellow BCU graduates is simple: “Follow your dream. If you encounter a barrier, knock it down, keep going. If you can't knock it down, take a breath, recalibrate and go round it instead. Where there is a means, there is a way. Never give up!”