The actress plays Izzy Armstrong in Corrie (Picture: PA)
Coronation Street star Cherylee Houston has collected her MBE for services in the disabled community.
The actress, known for her role as Izzy Armstrong, works to remove barriers for other disabled people and has previously spoken about welfare cuts at the Houses of Parliament.
Playing Izzy for the past 12 years, Cherylee also picked up her award for services to drama, collecting her MBE from the Princess Royal.
‘If you think when you were growing up who your role models were, who influences you, if you as a disabled child don’t have that, how do you know what you can do?’, the actress said, discussing the importance of seeing disabled people on screens.
‘I firmly believe the more we’re on our screens, the more we’re going to be understood, the more people care and empathise and will ensure that we will have equal rights and equal opportunity, because it’s about equality.’
As Cherylee passionately continues campaigning, she believes that once there is greater representation of disabled people on television, ‘there will be more ramps on the high street and more accessibility’.
Cherylee made a return to Coronation Street last year, in a storyline that highlighted the difficulty millions of disabled people experienced during the pandemic and the pressures they were under while trying to work remotely and shield at the same time.
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The show’s writers and producers collaborated with Cherylee for many months on the storyline.
At the time, Cherylee had been shielding since last March and said:
‘I have been unbelievably fortunate that my employers enabled me to continue shielding after the official shielding guidance ended in March. I’ve been so supported by ITV, but I’m aware that many of my disabled peers who were previously shielding haven’t had that safety and have been forced to make the decision to earn money to survive whilst facing the real fear of death or serious illness through Covid.’
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The actress campaigns to remove barriers for other disabled people.
