Deafblind woman wins Women in Data Award
The Women in Data Awards 2025 ceremony took place Thursday 27 March in North Greenwich, London. The award recognises women who are tech leaders, innovative, different, and pushing boundaries.
Jane Manley, RNIB’s Social Media Analyst, won a Women in Data Award. She was nominated by Deborah Womack, RNIB’s Trustee, for creating a workbook that could analyse across all fourteen RNIB Facebook groups, pulling thousands of bites of data and analysing them.
Jane, who is deafblind, was the only nominee from the charity sector and the only nominee who has dual sensory loss. She taught herself basic code and is now looking to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) can be used in this area too. Jane takes data from thousands of quotes, codes under various themes to gain an insight into the lived experience of the blind and partially sighted community that gives insight and understanding to help drive positive change.
Judges of the Women in Data Awards said: “Jane’s work is dispelling myths that blind and partially sighted people cannot have careers in STEM. Her research has been used by the European Union to adopt ways of organising social listening data to understand the lived experience of the blind and partially sighted community. Jane is making data and the world accessible for all.”
Reflecting on the win, Jane said: “It’s been amazing to be part of the Women in Data experience and to be recognised for the data abilities RNIB has, which I happen to be part of, which is even better. So many people are unaware that charities understand, investigate and share with others and the difference our abilities make.
“I love being where you don’t expect to see deafblind women to help change opinions of dual sensory loss one day at a time.
“I’m accepting this award not just for me and the things I’m passionate about, but for everything RNIB enables me to do.”
Outside of work, Jane volunteers with Hair & Care and Make Fashion Accessible projects. She is a treasurer of the Horley Evening Women’s Institute and has recently been elected Trustee for the Technology Association of Visually Impaired People (TAVIP).
Vivienne Francis, RNIB Chief Strategy and Public Affairs Officer, said: “Congratulations to Jane for winning a Women in Data Award. It’s brilliant Jane is being recognised for the invaluable and accessible work she does. Jane puts accessibility at the heart of her work and is shifting the narrative that blind and partially sighted people, and those with dual sensory loss, cannot have a career in STEM – with some serious style, wit, and bravura. Well done, Jane!”
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About RNIB
We are the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB).Every six minutes, someone in the UK begins to lose their sight. RNIB is taking a stand against exclusion, inequality and isolation to create a world without barriers where people with sight loss can lead full lives. A different world where society values blind and partially sighted people not for the disabilities they’ve overcome, but for the people they are.RNIB. See differently.Call the RNIB Helpline on 0303 123 9999 or visit www.rnib.org.uk
