Elizabeth Ferris (wheelchair rugby)
Scottish wheelchair rugby player
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Background
Ferris was born in Northern Ireland[5][6] She attended Rainey Endowed School, Magherafelt[7] and after leaving in 2003 went on to study medicine at the University of Dundee. A spinal cord injury during her studies rendered her paralyzed from the waist down.[8] She was the first full-time wheelchair user to graduate from the University of Dundee School of Medicine[9][10]
Rugby League career
During rehabilitation after her spinal injury Ferris was introduced to the sport of wheelchair rugby league[11] She was selected to represent Scotland at the 2013 Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup[12] and has served as both Manager and Chair of Scotland Wheelchair Rugby League[13]
She founded[14] the Dundee Dragons Wheelchair Sports Club in 2013 as there were no facilities in Tayside for team based wheelchair sport.[15]
Honours
- Recipient of the Dundee City Disability Sport Jenny Wood-Allen Award in 2014[16]
- Appointed Ambassador for Spinal Injuries Scotland[17]
- Honorary Fellowship from Abertay University, Dundee in 2017[18]
- Awarded the University of Dundee's Wimberley Award upon graduating from her medical degree.[10]
- In 2020 Ferris was awarded the British Empire Medal in the 2020 Queen's Birthday Honours for services to Disability Sport in Scotland.[4][19][20]
- In 2021 Ferris was named as one of Britain's 100 Most Influential Disabled People with her inclusion in the Shaw Trust Disability Power 100 List.[21]