Liz Carr

Liz Carr is an English actress, comedian, broadcaster and international disability rights activist. Early life and education Carr was born 21 April 1972 in Port Sunlight and grew up in Bebington, Merseyside. She attended Upton Hall School FCJ in Upton, Merseyside and Birkenhead High School in Birkenhead. She studied law at the University of Nottingham. Disability activism Carr was disabled from age 7, owing to arthrogryposis multiplex congenita, and has used a wheelchair since the age of 14. She frequently refers to her condition in her stand-up as "meus thronus kaputus." She is frank about her life as a disabled person and the inherent comedy it brings: "I've had some tuts, which is fantastic... I look quite frail to some people, so it's like, 'She's talking about sex, she's swearing.' Every stereotype you didn't expect. People generally look terrified. 'Oh my God, is she going to be funny? Can we laugh at this?'" Carr became involved in politics, disabled rights, and activism while studying at the University of Nottingham. Following her graduation she left law to work as a disability equality trainer. She has been a disability rights campaigner in the UK and has spoken at many rallies. In May 2008 she joined with ADAPT, a prominent disability rights group in the United States, to raise money for it and to protest presidential candidate John McCain's position on a bill permitting Americans qualifying for Medicaid coverage of nursing home costs to instead spend it on home-based, or community care, making it easier for disabled people to remain in their own homes.