From the classroom to the Commonwealth games: Dr Julie McElroy’s story

My educational journey has never followed a conventional path, but it has been rich, transformative and deeply meaningful. I have cerebral palsy and began my education in additional needs schooling in Glasgow before progressing into Further Education at what was then Cardonald College, now Glasgow Clyde College. It was there I became one of the exceptional students to emerge from the Scottish Government’s BRITE Initiative, a programme established in 2001 to advance the inclusive principles of the Beattie Report. The Beattie Committee recognised that young people with additional support needs deserved equitable opportunities, tailored support and environments that understood their abilities and aspirations. Those principles shaped my early development and gave me the foundation to progress. I was also inspired by the aspirations of my able bodied siblings, whose achievements spurred me forward.

Glasgow Clyde College later appointed me as a Fellow of the College, and in 2021 I was inducted into the College Development Network’s Hall of Fame. This recognition affirmed not only my achievements but the value of widening access education and the power of inclusive practice.

After three successful years in Further Education, I moved into Higher Education at the University of the West of Scotland. During this period, my passion for assistive technologies grew beyond the classroom and, against all odds, in 2017, I completed my PhD in Assistive Technology, investigating the experiences of disabled students using these tools in tertiary education.

For someone who began life in additional needs schooling, this achievement symbolised not only academic success but personal triumph. 

Later that same year, however, my life changed dramatically. A traumatic accident left me housebound, and at a time when mental health services were almost non existent, I turned to The Open University (OU) as a lifeline. Continuing to study gave me purpose, structure and hope and I went on to achieve a Merit in a Master of Law. My experience with the OU has been profoundly positive; its flexibility, accessibility and exceptional lecturers allowed me to thrive at a time when I needed it most.

During this journey with the OU, I discovered a deep commitment to disability rights and the law, and in 2019 I showcased my work at my TEDx Presentation there. I spoke about how assistive technologies can be life-changing and vital to the independence of many, and how there is a need to address the gap.

Following on from this, in the same year, my academic path continued with a Master of Knowledge Exchange at the University of Strathclyde. This involved a conversation with a Stanford MBA student, who inspired me to pursue an MBA at The Open University, which I graduated from in 2024. Witnessing the changing professional landscape especially for people from widening access backgrounds, strengthened my resolve to equip myself with the business knowledge needed to influence corporate and societal change.

Volunteering

Alongside my studies, I have volunteered for over 20 years, contributing to communities, organisations and national initiatives that champion equality, inclusion and disability rights. I partnered with the Glasgow Evening Times and Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games to lead para sport awareness campaigns, writing fortnightly columns and producing digital media content that showcased the achievements of disabled athletes. These experiences strengthened my communication skills, my confidence and my commitment to inclusive storytelling.

Leadership

My leadership journey began even earlier, with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. It was the first time I recognised my own potential and learned to trust my abilities. Throughout my life, I have been fortunate to meet individuals who modelled inclusive leadership, people who treated me according to my strengths rather than assumptions. Their belief in me laid the foundations for my personal and professional ambitions.

Over the last two decades, I have become a consultant, academic and disability rights activist by epitomising the values of diversity, inclusivity and accessibility across my work. My ethos of self leadership and stakeholder engagement has allowed me to demonstrate that people are our greatest asset. The best performances come from individuals who are user led in the development of assistive technologies.

My ethos of self leadership and stakeholder engagement has allowed me to demonstrate that people are our greatest asset.

Throughout my life, I have become a progressive leader not merely because I am a person living with a disability, but because I have sought out opportunities and created them for others. Organisations now face increasing obligations to embed equalities or risk damaging litigation. My hope is that embedding equalities becomes not only widespread but instinctive.

Inclusive leadership, in my experience, focuses on the talents, expertise and lived experiences individuals bring, not on assumptions about disability. 

To become an inclusive leader, one must develop a strong rationale for a vision, mission and strategy aligned to organisational goals. Leaders must be visible role models, providing dedicated support, authority and resources to implement diversity, equity and inclusion effectively. They must also understand the business impact and develop meaningful measurements to track progress.

Commonwealth Games

Today, I serve as a Non Executive Director for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. The environment is exhilarating, fast paced and intellectually demanding and I thrive in it. Glasgow 2026 seems on course not only to live up to its legacy but to accelerate it, demonstrating how a scaled down Games* can be both visionary and viable. This feels like a genuine reset moment, a blueprint for the future of the Commonwealth Games. I am deeply grateful to fulfil this role and to be a valued and integral part of Glasgow 2026. I am enjoying learning, embracing the energy and engagement among my peers and board colleagues. The world is far richer when I am given the opportunity to contribute, supported by the right allies.

My life has been shaped by resilience, curiosity and the unwavering belief that disability should never limit ambition. I have been fortunate to meet people who saw my potential, but I have also worked relentlessly to turn that potential into achievement.

The world is richer when disabled people are given the opportunity to contribute and I am proud to be one of those voices.

*There will be 10 sports included in Glasgow 2026, down from 19 in the 2022 edition held in Birmingham.