Disability advocates: voices highlighted in the 2019 archive
Disability Advocates To Follow
By For Care Online · Originally published 17 July 2019
Original article and dated context
For Care Online is an online platform that revolustionises how people organise their supports to suit their unique lifestyle.
We know there are lots of amazing advocates who are promoting inclusion and removing barriers for Australian’s living with a disability, but we’ve chosen some of our favourites for 2019. Be sure to give them a follow so you can see their amazing work on a daily basis!
Carly is an Australian speaker, writer and disability activist who started her career by blogging about her skin condition, Ichthyosis. Her success has led to numerous awards, including being named in the Westpac 100 Women of Influence Awards and regularly appearing on television shows.
Nowadays, she has written a part memoir, part manifesto book called Say Hello! The title is a direct reference her daily life, where strangers will often start a conversation with rude comments, personal questions and assumptions, instead of a simple “hello”.
Dylan Alcott is a Triple J radio host, motivational speaker, Australian Paralympic athlete and an overall legend! He was born with a tumour on his spine and at just 3 days old, was given an operation which ultimately left him as a paraplegic. Dylan discovered Paralympic sports at the age of 12 and went on to become the world’s youngest wheelchair basketball gold medallist in 2008.
Since then, he now spends his time jet setting as a wheelchair tennis superstar in addition to partly running the disability and accessibility training start-up Get Skilled Access. He really has devoted his life to giving young Australians with a disability more opportunities by getting involved in sport and study through the Dylan Alcott Foundation and an all-abilities music festival called Ability-Fest.
Well, if it isn’t impressive enough that Senator Jordon Steele John is the youngest ever senator, he is also the first person who has a disability to sit in the Upper House. Jordon started off his career by studying politics at the Macquarie University, while dedicating his spare time to youth and disability advocacy.
He continues his advocacy as a Senator in Western Australia, by making sure the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is fully implemented and gives all Australian’s with a disability the choice and control they deserve.
Catia is the owner of a not for profit organisation Starting With Julius, which is committed to promoting equal representation of people with a disability in the media. Her son, Julius, who has Down Syndrome was the one who motivated Catia to create the organisation, in addition to becoming an advocate for disability.
Follow voices that help you understand the issues you care about
Consider the topics you want to explore, such as appearance diversity, sport, education or policy. Read more than one perspective and check the date when a post concerns a changing rule. Someone else’s experience can be valuable without being the same as yours.
Start with the person’s own information, such as Carly Findlay’s profile, or an official parliamentary profile for a public role. If you need help with a specific service or decision, seek the relevant support rather than treating a social-media post as individual advice.
Let lived experience inform practice without making one person represent everyone
Ask what the commentary reveals about access, assumptions and communication. Discuss those issues with the people using your service and consider what you can change. Do not use an advocate’s achievements to set a standard that every participant is expected to meet.
Use Commission rights standards alongside the perspectives you read. Check permission and context before quoting or republishing someone’s work. Listening should lead to practical improvements, rather than using a recognised name as an endorsement of your organisation.
Questions readers ask
Is this a current list of the best advocates to follow?
No. It is a contributor’s 2019 selection.
Can one advocate’s experience represent every disabled person?
No. Read diverse perspectives and listen to the individual.
Find providers who listen to what matters to you
Tell Clickability about the support and communication you want. Compare reviewed and rated providers and ask how they respond to participant feedback.
