Isabella Choate

Isabella Choate: My name’s Isabella Choate. My pronouns are they/them and I am a living experience advocate. I’m also an ambassador for International Day of People with Disability.

I used to be an elite athlete on the Australian team for canoe slalom.

I was diagnosed with a chronic illness in year 11. I ended up being bedbound for about eight months. It was about six years of isolation and really, really struggling before I even considered the disabled community.

My big question is ‘can you give me an example of disabled rage and disabled joy?’

Unknown: Oh, that’s a good one. That’s a good question.

Isabella: People are surprised by the things that I’m joyous about. Seeing other disabled people out and about, going out to lunch with my friends and we’ve dressed up all of our mobility aids and we look fantastic. If people are going to look at me, give them something to look at.

Ronan Soussa: Paralympics, wheelchair basketball, is like joy, because it’s not just about the disability, it’s what people can actually do.

Maree Jenner: Joy for me was when I first connected with the Short Statured People of Australia. When we go out, it’s pretty joyful.

Isabella: Disabled rage is an experience that is unique to people with disability. It is a human right that people with disability should be allowed in any space. It’s okay to be upset when you are discriminated against.

Santiago Velasquez Hurtado: My rage comes when somebody says, “Trey can’t come in.” I can be refused and you feel powerless. But my joy is the opposite, when people realise I’m just another person.

Isabella: International Day of People with Disability is a really great opportunity for the Australian community to consider how we feel that we are different and how we feel that we’re the same.

Like many, many Australians, I didn’t have anything to do with disability, or so I thought.

Disability is a culture. It’s not a look, it’s not just a definition. It’s not just a way to access different benefits.

There is a culture, there is a community, and it’s beautiful, and I’m proudly disabled.