Maree Jenner: My big question is…

James Parr: My big question is…

Isabella Choate: My big question is…

Ronan Soussa: Would you rather your disability be seen or hidden?

Maree: Oh wow!

Santiago Velasquez Hurtado: I am a blind electrical engineer.

Maree: I do inclusion programs in schools.

James: I’m a model, a disability advocate, and Wiradjuri man.

Isabella: My pronouns are they/them, and I am a living experience advocate.

Olivia Sidhu: I want to make a difference for all people with disabilities.

Santiago: And I am an ambassador.

Isabella: I’m an ambassador.

Ronan: I’m an ambassador for International Day of People with Disability.

Hello everybody!

Maree: Nice to see you.

Ronan: I’m keen to get started.

Olivia: ‘Would you change anything about your disability?’

Isabella: That’s a good question.

James: That’s a good one.

Santiago: All of the experiences that I have had, I wouldn’t have had if I didn’t have this disability.

Isabella: There’s a narrative that people with disability should wish to be different. We should wish that we don’t have our disabilities.

Maree: It’s given me such inherent strengths.

Olivia: It’s just a part of who I am and who we are.

James: The only thing I would change is the perception and the narrative that comes with having a disability. The portrayal that disability is the worst thing that could happen to you or it’s a bad thing. Every media that we’re exposed to all builds a perception. Every experience of people with a disability where we’re included, I think will help rewrite the narrative.

Santiago: The more we can break down the perception that people with disabilities need to be fixed, the more we can move forward as a society. My big question is ‘for somebody with your disability, how has the technology revolution been?’

James: ‘Why do you think the media avoids showing people with a disability as sexual or desirable?’

Isabella: ‘Can you give me an example of disabled rage and disabled joy?’ I think International Day of People with Disability is a really great opportunity for the Australian community to consider how we feel that we’re different and how we feel that we’re the same.

Olivia: I am proud of everything that I do. I am also pretty normal too.

Ronan: Do you know what I like to say? “Different isn’t less. Different is necessary.”

Maree: Disability, it’s the diversity of human nature. It’s the assumptions, often the attitudes that people have. For some reason we are less because we are not able to do the things the same way as everyone else, but we bring to the table such an interesting group of skills and talent as a result of our diversity. My big question is, ‘when you look towards the next generation, what gives you hope for the future?’

Ronan: More representation in media, that’s something good for the future.

Olivia: Exposure like this allows people to learn to be more inclusive and accepting of people with disabilities.

Isabella: Young people who are proudly claiming their disability.

Maree: They are much more inclusive and accepting.

Santiago: When I’m walking down the streets and little kids are genuinely curious. I say to people, ask questions because if you don’t know, you don’t know, but don’t put us in a box. Yes, I’m blind, but some people are tall, some people are short, some people are different ethnicities. We’re just another mix in this massive pot we call the world.

Ronan: People with disabilities deserve to be seen, heard and valued in all spaces.

Isabella: Disability is a culture. There is a community and it’s beautiful, and I am proudly disabled.