Dr Hazel McFarlane awarded an MBE
- Area of Work: The ALLIANCE
- Type: News Item
- Published: 20th June 2023
The MBE has been given for services to people with sight loss.
We are delighted to announce ALLIANCE Senior Sensory Hub Officer, Hazel McFarlane, has been awarded an MBE for services to people with sight loss.
Hazel has been involved in disability research and activism for over 30 years. In 1991, while a student at university, she was a founding member and president of Student Vision Scotland, an organisation of and for vision impaired students. During her time there, Hazel led a successful campaign to widen eligibility to disabled students allowance for students in FE.
Hazel joined the Direct Action Network, campaigning for disability rights through civil disobedience, culminating in the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 coming into statute – enabling access to legal redress to disabled people for the first time.
Following the total loss of her sight in 2007, where she had to absorb the news in a busy Eye Clinic, she devised a proposal to set up a Vision Support Service in Ayrshire. RNIB Scotland gained funding and this first, patient-led initiative came into being in 2010, in Ayr and Crosshouse University Hospitals. RNIB went on to roll out this service model across the UK.
Hazel was the president of Troon Tortoises, from 2012 – 2015, a local running club she joined six months after the total loss of her sight. As president, she organised the club’s Annual 10K, the largest, mid-week 10K in Scotland, attracting 1,400 runners. Hazel ran her first Marathon in London in 2010, raising £8,000 for British Blind Sports and completed a double Marathon in 2013, running 56 miles from Glasgow to Edinburgh, raising £2,500 for the RNIB Eye Clinic Support Service.
Hazel’s contribution to improving access to services and inclusion of people with sight loss, was acknowledged in 2019, when she was included in the Disability Power List of the 100 most influential disabled people in the UK.
Hazel said she “is utterly delighted to have been awarded a MBE in the King’s first Birthday Honours List”.
Sara Redmond, Chief Officer of Development at the ALLIANCE said:
“On behalf of the ALLIANCE, we are delighted that Hazel has received this recognition for her long standing work to campaign and influence change in order to ensure that barriers are removed and people living with sensory loss are able to realise their rights.
Hazel is always fully focused on ensuring that people with lived experience can participate in decisions which impact their lives and this award is recognition of this achievements and contributions.”
End of page.
End of page.
You may also like:
Companions of blind and partially sighted people can now travel for free on ScotRail trains.
Continue readingThe ALLIANCE welcomes the homecare medicines review to improve care for those who need it.
Continue readingThe ALLIANCE wants to hear about your communication experiences
Continue readingRead a statement from our Chief Officer, Sara Redmond, on the recent social security announcement from the UK government.
Continue readingThe conference celebrates the range of work developed as part of Collective Advocacy facilitated by CAPS.
Continue readingThe £1m Commissioning Fund is a pivotal resource within the FORTH2O project, designed to spark investment.
Continue readingCould you help shape the future of Human Rights in Scotland? Apply to join the SNAP2 Leadership Panel
Continue readingVisit the Defib finder website to find the defibrillators closest to you.
Continue readingScottish Recovery Network are hosting a series of workshops on peer support in suicide prevention across Scotland this April.
Continue readingHave your say on what you would like to see from a future Contact Scotland BSL service.
Continue readingThe ALLIANCE and Scottish Government have produced several resources on heathy aging, in support of the Women's Health Plan.
Continue readingApril is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, a fantastic annual opportunity to raise awareness of bowel cancer.
Continue readingThe UN ICESCR Committee has issued its recommendations and several reflect points made by the ALLIANCE and our members.
Continue readingEPI-SCOT aims to understand how knowing the cause of a young person’s epilepsy might lead to more effective treatments.
Continue readingThe report states that community health and social care finances are increasingly precarious, and encourages IJBs to work with partners.
Continue readingThis year has seen continued growth in membership, reach and impact, through our delivery of a diverse range of programmes,
Continue readingCarers Scotland launches their State of Caring in Scotland 2024 research report.
Continue readingThe ALISS team is delighted to announce the launch of ALISS Analytics, a new tool designed to provide easy access to valuable data on ALISS.
Continue readingThe Digital Citizen Panel is pleased to share the first member spotlight, highlighting member Pasna Sallis and her work with older adults
Continue readingThe ALLIANCE responds to the Equality, Human Rights, and Civil Justice Committee's inquiry into the the Public Sector Equality Duty.
Continue readingRaise awareness and support history making for the Deaf Community in Fife.
Continue readingEvery Tuesday the Discover Digital team at the ALLIANCE shares a free and trusted digital tool that supports health and wellbeing.
Continue readingOur response calls for a human rights based approach to outcomes, and to consider how to strengthen the SHRC.
Continue readingResearchers at the University of Strathclyde want to hear your opinions about what the hospitals of the future should look and feel like
Continue readingThe ALLIANCE are establishing a peer network to connect professionals working in Glasgow who are passionate about digital inclusion.
Continue reading