Caroline Casey (activist)
Caroline Casey (born 1971)[1] is an Irish activist and management consultant. She is legally blind due to ocular albinism.[2][3] In 2000, aged 28, she left her job in Accenture to launch the Aisling Foundation, with an aim to improve how disability is treated.[1][4][3] In 2001, she trekked across India, solo, on elephant back for c.1,000 km, raising €250k for The National Council for the Blind of Ireland and Sightsavers.[4] Casey became the first female mahout from the west.[5] The journey was the subject of a National Geographic documentary Elephant Vision[3] and a TED Talk.[4]
Background[]
Casey was diagnosed with ocular albinism as a child but was not personally informed until her 17th birthday.[2] She graduated from University College Dublin with BA, DBS and MBS degrees.[6] She worked at a couple of jobs including as a management consultant for Accenture.[4]
Aisling Foundation/Kanchi[]
The Ability Awards, styled as the O2 Ability Awards for sponsorship reasons, were set up by the foundation in 2005 to recognise organisations that promote disability inclusion.[7][8][3][5] In 2011, the Telefónica Ability Awards were launched in Spain, with further versions planned for other countries in Europe.[5][9] In 2008 the foundation was renamed in honour of the elephant "Kanchi" used on the Indian expedition.[3][10]
The Valuable 500[]
Casey founded The Valuable 500, an organisation that aims to get disability on the leadership agenda.[11][12]
Recognition[]
- Henry Viscardi Achievement Awards 2020[13]
- Rehab Young Person of the Year (joint), 2002 (joint)[14]
- JCI Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World, 2002[15]
- Ashoka Fellow, 2006[5][16]
- WEF Young Global Leaders, 2006[5][9]
- Honorary Doctor of Laws, University College Dublin, 2006[14][9]
- Eisenhower Scholarship, 2007[5]
- Speaker at:
- Global Competitiveness Forum, Riyadh[17]
- Clinton Global Initiative, New York City[17]
- TEDWomen
Affiliations[]
- Board member of 98FM
- Board member of Sightsavers
- Former board member of Comhairle/Citizens Information Board (2002-?)
- Former board member of Jack and Jill Children's Foundation
- Former board member of FÁS (2001-?)
- Former board member of Irish Charity Tax Reform Group/Charities Institute Ireland
References[]
- ^ a b "International Women's Day 2016". HSE. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
- ^ a b Casey, Caroline (21 October 2014). "Would being legally blind change the way that you see yourself?". Irish Independent. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
- ^ a b c d e Reddan, Fiona (27 June 2008). "Aisling Foundation is going global". Irish Times. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
- ^ a b c d "Inspiring Irish legally blind adventurer's TED Talk". IrishCentral. 11 May 2017. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f "Para integrar la discapacidad en la sociedad hay que cambiar la mentalidad, no las leyes" [To integrate disability in society a change in mentality, not laws, is needed] (in Spanish). 14 April 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
- ^ "Caroline Casey – UCD Entrepreneurial Graduates". NovaUCD. Archived from the original on 5 August 2017. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
- ^ "O2 Ability Awards - 2005 Overall Winners". 2006. Archived from the original on 19 November 2006. Retrieved 17 May 2017 – via archive.org.
- ^ "O2 Ability Awards 2007". RTÉ.ie. 2007. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
- ^ a b c "Caroline Casey wows the audience as BPW marks quarter century". Galway Advertiser. 26 May 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
- ^ Burke, Sinead (9 October 2014). "Inspiring businesswoman Caroline Casey on how she's managed the tough times". Irish Independent. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
- ^ "Sky News Daily Podcast: Meet the women shattering the glass ceiling - but is it job done?". Sky News. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
- ^ "500 global firms put disability inclusion on boardroom agendas". TheGuardian.com. 18 May 2021.
- ^ "2020 Henry Viscardi Achievement Awards".
- ^ a b c Conway, Pádraic (7 April 2016). "Caroline Casey – Doctor of Laws" (PDF). National University of Ireland. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
- ^ "Nominations sought for Dublin's outstanding young people awards". IrishLegal.com. 16 February 2017. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
- ^ "Our Advisory Board". Ashoka Ireland. Retrieved 17 May 2017.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b "The Power of Believing in the Right Thing and Your Extraordinary Potential". AspireWomen.co.uk. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
External links[]
- 1971 births
- Blind activists
- Blind people from Ireland
- 21st-century Irish women
- Living people
- People with albinism
- Alumni of University College Dublin
- 21st-century Irish businesspeople