Caroline Casey (activist)

This article is about the Irish activist. For the American soccer player, see Caroline Casey (soccer).

Caroline Casey (born 20 October 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.^[5][4] Casey became the first female mahout from the west.^[6] The journey was the subject of a National Geographic documentary Elephant Vision^[3] and a TED Talk.^[4]

Caroline Casey
Speaking at the 2021 World Economic Forum
Born	(1971-10-20) 20 October 1971 (age 53)
Education	University College Dublin
Occupation(s)	Activist, management consultant

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.^[7] 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.^[8][9][3][6] In 2011, the Telefónica Ability Awards were launched in Spain, with further versions planned for other countries in Europe.^[6][10] In 2008 the foundation was renamed in honour of the elephant "Kanchi" used on the Indian expedition.^[3][11]

The Valuable 500

Casey founded The Valuable 500, an organisation that aims to get disability on the leadership agenda.^[12][13]

Recognition

• Henry Viscardi Achievement Awards 2020^[14]
• Rehab Young Person of the Year (joint), 2002 (joint)^[15]
• JCI Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World, 2002^[16]
• Ashoka Fellow, 2006^[6][17]
• WEF Young Global Leaders, 2006^[6][10]
• Honorary Doctor of Laws, University College Dublin, 2006^[15][10]
• Eisenhower Scholarship, 2007^[6]
• Speaker at:
  • Global Competitiveness Forum, Riyadh^[18]
  • Clinton Global Initiative, New York City^[18]
  • 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^[15]