RIGHTS ON FLIGHTS

Welcome to Rights on Flights, a global initiative ensuring safe and dignified travel for all

The Rights on Flights campaign was founded in March 2023 by Sophie Morgan, Maayan Ziv, Josh Wood, Chris Wood MBE and Roberto Castiglioni MBE to combat accessibility and safety barriers for Disabled travellers. 

The campaign has made significant progress through awareness initiatives, engaging policymakers, and creating groundbreaking legislation, The Assisted Air Travel Act (™).

Air travel is global, as such we continue to engage with the US DoT and all stakeholders.

The Air4All system, developed by Chris Wood, Preismangoode, and SWS Certification in collaboration with Delta Flight Products, is a solution the campaign is championing.

"The campaign aims to achieve systemic change, such as increased staff competency in disability assistance, community engagement, commitments from manufacturers to implement accessible designs, and policy changes and legislation advancing disability rights. We will stop at nothing…”
- Sophie Morgan

MEET THE TEAM


  • Co-Founder

    TV presenter, author, artist, producer and co-founder of both Rights on Flights and Making Space Media, there is not much that she can’t do! Sophie is the beating heart of Rights on Flights, using her experiences and connections for good, she is always up for a challenge!

  • Martyn works at the intersection of business, technology and leadership to drive change for a fully inclusive world. Starting one of the first lived experience blogs in 2009, he's created high quality content, built online communities and started multiple businesses.

    Growing up with a physical disability, he's faced many personal challenges, and successfully chased down many dreams! From working in London, to driving a car with his hands, scuba diving, and being engaged to his soul mate. His mantra is 'Everything is possible'!

    After gaining a degree in economics and a master's in marketing, Martyn started his career at a charity for disability rights. Following his love of blogging and social media, he quickly became a disabled influencer (voted regularly in the UK's disability power 100 list), plus working in media and tourism for social change.

    He's a published author (Everything is Possible - travel memoir), an international speaker, media spokesperson, appeared in the LinkedIn TV advert in 2021, and has published many blogs, vlogs and podcasts. In particular he livestreamed 'The Daily Sib' for 4 straight months in the first months of the pandemic, interviewing a wide range of disabled people and disability ally's.

    Disability Horizons was the first disability magazine to utilise online content and social media. Created alongside his friend Srin Madipalli, its given a voice to disabled people like never before. For 12 amazing years it published educational and entertaining information by disabled people, for disabled people.

    Accomable, also co founded with Srin, disrupted the accessible accommodation industry and was acquired by Airbnb in 2017.

    Most recently in partnership with the Goat agency (global leaders in influencer marketing) Martyn started the already award winning Purple Goat agency. In just three years they're working with multinational companies and the best disabled content creators. Giving representation to disabled people in advertising like never before.

  • Maayan Ziv is a Toronto-based activist, photographer, and entrepreneur. Born with Muscular Dystrophy, she has been a relentless advocate for accessibility from a young age. In 2015, Maayan founded AccessNow, a crowdsourced platform that maps the accessibility status of locations worldwide, empowering users to share and discover accessible spaces. Her leadership has garnered numerous accolades, including Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 (2021) and the Governor General’s Innovation Award (2020). Maayan holds a Bachelor’s degree in Radio and Television Arts and a Master’s in Digital Media from Toronto Metropolitan University.  Through her work, she continues to challenge norms and drive global conversations on disability and inclusion

  • Chris is a campaigner and lobbyist in aviation and disability. He is a member of the UK Civil Aviation Authorities ‘Access to Air Travel’ advisory group.

    He is also one-third of the UK Air4Alll consortium trio collaborating with US-based Delta Flight Products (a subsidiary of Delta Air Lines). Together, they have brought a prototype to market designed to allow power wheelchair users to fly sitting in their own chairs while the airline loses no passenger places.

    His two children, now young adults, are keen to travel. He does not want the fact that they are both in wheelchairs to hinder their aspirations to travel. Safety and dignity, for them, have yet to find their way into air travel.

    Chris received an investiture in 2021 in Her Majesty the Queen’s Birthday Honour’s list with an MBE, this was for his work in Accessible Aviation.

  • Joshua Wintersgill is the Founder and Director of Able Move Ltd. In August 2017, an innovative idea was created by Josh’s difficulties in accessing air travel as a wheelchair user. In September 2018, Joshua won the UK Disabled Entrepreneurs Award run by the founder of easyJet, Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, and Leonard Cheshire. Following the awards, Josh and Sir Stelios then negotiated an investment and brand licence deal into the easy family of brands. In 2019, Josh also won Great British Young Entrepreneur of the Year.

    Josh graduated in 2015 from the University West of England (UWE) with a 1st Class Honours degree in Information Technology Management for Business. Josh also received an Honorary Master’s degree in Technology from UWE, awarded for his contribution to inclusivity for students and the wider public.

    Josh advocates for greater disability inclusion across the travel industry, mainly the aviation industry, through his roles in global, national and regional advisory groups.

    Josh is also an ambassador for Leonard Cheshire and Spinal Muscular Atrophy and a trustee for Disabled Living. Josh recently spoke at the United Nations in New York at the Convention on the Rights of Persons with a Disability, on economic empowerment of entrepreneurship and employment for those with disabilities.

    Aside from the entrepreneurial and advocating world, Josh is currently training to become a Paralympian and is part of the Great British shooting talent and development pathway programme, with his eyes firmly set on the LA 2028 Olympic Games.

  • Roberto is an accessibility consultant at easyJet and a senior researcher at INCLAVI. With over 10 years of experience, his work focuses on advocating and promoting equal access to air travel for all. He is passionate about making aviation more inclusive and enjoyable, ensuring that people with disabilities and reduced mobility can travel with dignity and confidence.

    Roberto is an accomplished professional who has successfully collaborated with regulators, airports, airlines, and other stakeholders to design and implement accessibility solutions that balance service excellence and costs. He has contributed to policy and standards development at national and international levels and has chaired advisory boards and panels.

    In 2022, he received the MBE in recognition of his services to aviation accessibility. His ultimate goal is to make flying accessible to everyone, one flight at a time.

  • Social Media Manager

    Working in the marketing and social media industry for nearly 6 years, Jet brings a pair of fresh eyes to our social media.

    As a disability activist, content creator and accessibility consultant, Jet is able to use their skills to create engaging and relatable content!