Elizabeth Ferris (wheelchair rugby)

Ferris was born in Northern Ireland[4][5] She attended Rainey Endowed School, Magherafelt[6] 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.[7] She was the first full-time wheelchair user to graduate from the University of Dundee School of Medicine[8][9]

During rehabilitation after her spinal injury Ferris was introduced to the sport of wheelchair rugby league[10] She was selected to represent Scotland at the 2013 Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup[11] and has served as both Manager and Chair of Scotland Wheelchair Rugby League[12]

She founded[13] the Dundee Dragons Wheelchair Sports Club in 2013 as there were no facilities in Tayside for team based wheelchair sport.[14]

• Recipient of the Dundee City Disability Sport Jenny Wood-Allen Award in 2014[15]
• Appointed Ambassador for Spinal Injuries Scotland[16]
• Honorary Fellowship from Abertay University, Dundee in 2017[17]
• Awarded the University of Dundee's Wimberley Award upon graduating from her medical degree.[9]
• In 2020 Ferris was awarded the British Empire Medal in the 2020 Queen's Birthday Honours for services to Disability Sport in Scotland.[3][18][19]
• 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.[20]