We are delighted to welcome Chris to the team.

Chris Cammiss B SC (Hons) Physics. PGCE: Access Auditor/Associate Consultant Trainer

I’m a full-time wheelchair user, having contracted polio as a child. I have lived the disabled life since the age of seven, worked all my life, been married and brought up my children. My work is viewed from the perspective of a wheelchair user.

After graduating from Manchester University and following the hippy trail across America for a year, I decided to train as a secondary school teacher. There followed a long, rewarding career as a Maths and Sciences teacher, Head of Department, in a range of inner-city state comprehensives. I had to take early retirement following an operation to reconstruct my right shoulder and subsequent rehabilitation, all caused by too many years of physical abuse playing wheelchair basketball (aggressively) and running the occasional marathon. I then worked as a long-term volunteer at the Manchester Commonwealth Games 2002 where I found a niche advising on disabled access at the venues and on general language/behaviour around disabled athletes and visitors.

For the last few years I have worked for Disabled Living, a long-established Manchester charity. Here I deliver well-received courses in Disability Awareness/Equality which takes me all over the UK. I conduct Access Audits up to any degree of complexity (NRAC) as requested by the client. I give specialist advice on any disability related issues.

Outside work my passions are travel (USA, Europe, NZ, Cuba, Peru, Singapore HK…), live sport (rugby, football, basketball …) and live music (the louder and darker the better …). I write articles for Rough Guides and generally like to involve myself in any disabled issue of the day.

I’m delighted to work with the team at Visits Unlimited.