Euan's Guide became a unique, essential resource for disabled access

Tributes have been paid to disabled campaigner Euan MacDonald who has died.

Despite a long battle with MND, Euan became one of Scotland’s foremost disability access advocates, creating the unique Euan’s Guide which became the TripAdvisor for disabled people, their families and their carerers.

The charity was founded in 2013 by Euan, a powerchair user, and his sister Kiki after Euan was diagnosed with Motor Neuron Disease. They discovered how the lack of disabled access information made everyday experiences stressful and Euan’s Guide was born after discovering that other disabled people experienced the same challenges.

Not knowing whether disabled people could access a venue, use an accessible toilet or find an accessible hotel room meant that without Euan’s Guide millions of disabled people would be unable to quickly, reliably and easily plan trips, experiences and events.

He wanted to create a resource that would give disabled people the freedom to live their lives to the full as he did without worrying about poor disabled access.

Over the last decade Euan has helped to build a service that delivers on that promise; a service that has helped make life a little bit easier, more fun and less stressful for hundreds of thousands of people across the UK and beyond.

Outside of Euan’s Guide, Euan was instrumental in pioneering MND research. He founded the Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research based at the University of Edinburgh in 2007, a not-for-profit, internationally recognised network of 200 scientists and professionals researching MND. The Euan MacDonald Centre runs the MND-SMART trial which now has over 750 participants.

Euan also launched SpeakUnique in 2012, a service that creates personalised synthetic voices for individuals who have lost or will lose the ability to speak, to prolong independence and dignity.

The Euan MacDonald Centre said: “Euan sadly passed away on 21st August 2024, aged 50. He is greatly missed by us all. 

“We will uphold Euan’s remarkable legacy and do our utmost to reach the day when we can slow, stop and ultimately reverse motor neuron disease.”

Siddharthan Chandran, MacDonald Professor of Neurology and director of the Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, said: “Through his vision, advocacy and leadership brought hope and helped transform the lives of countless people living with MND and other disabilities.

“Euan and his father Donald established, through a philanthropic gift in 2007, the Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research at the University of Edinburgh.

“As a direct result of this far-sighted investment, Scotland is now a leading global player in MND research from discovery science to clinical trials. This includes the landmark MND-SMART trial, the largest-ever drugs trial for MND in the UK.”

Paul Thompson, director of fundraising at MND charity My Name'5 Doddie Foundation, said: "We're extremely sad to hear this news.

“Euan has been a huge figure in the MND community, in Scotland and far beyond. The Euan MacDonald Centre has been an integral part of the picture for MND research since day one. "The determination that Euan faced this disease with has been so important to so many people. The MND community has lost another powerful advocate, but the legacy he leaves is enormous.

“Our thoughts are with Euan's wife and family at this very difficult time."