Accessibility 
Deniz joined Policy Connect in July 2024 as a Policy Research Fellow in Accessibility, with a focus on accessible transport, and was promoted to Senior Researcher in February 2026.
Before joining Policy Connect, Deniz worked as a Parliamentary Assistant, gaining insight into policy areas such as transport, education, health, and social care. They have a policy research background in tackling school exclusions and improving minoritised young people’s access to support and health services.
They are an expert by lived experience, having sat on the Office for Students Disability in Higher Education Advisory Panel, and continuing to work as a consultant with Disabled Students UK. They are also a part of the Global Disability Innovation Hub’s Disabled Leaders Network.
Deniz’s academic background is in social and political psychology. During their BSc in Psychology with Legal Studies at the University of Sussex, they worked as a research assistant on projects addressing discrimination, income inequality, and social change. Deniz has also co-authored two papers on host attitudes towards migrants.
Deniz’s university life was built on making the university an accessible place. They were a Disabled Students’ Officer, an Access Sussex campaigner, and a Psychology Accessibility Representative, advocating for policy changes on hybrid learning and accessible housing.
Outside of work, Deniz is always collecting hobbies: board games, knitting, crocheting, karaoke, Bachata, bouldering, and line dancing…
Articles written by Gurur Deniz Uyanık
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Why the Scrapping of England’s Time Limits on Concessionary Bus Travel Matters
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What does the King’s Speech mean for accessible transport?
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How Pavement Accessibility Standards Can Support Devolved Enforcement
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Enacting and Building on the UK Government’s Accessible Railways Roadmap
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National Centre for Accessible Transport to launch the Accessible Transport Policy Commission’s first report, Joined Up Policies, Joined Up Journeys.
