Upcoming Expo Aids in Experience of Disability

Over 21 percent of Australian’s live with some form of disability. Advocate Hannah Diviney believes representation and resources are vital to people with a disability, providing connection in what can be an isolating experience.

Key Points

Ahead of the upcoming South West Disability Expo, event Ambassador Hannah said these kind of community events are life-changing for people living with disability.

“It’s really important to have community and to have all of these resources and people in this space,” Hannah told Hope 103.2.

The mix of lived experience and professional knowledge in the room is eye-opening for people who may be new to disability, whether through parenting or recent changes to their health.

“Part of the way that we thrive as a community is because we have each other to talk to,” Hannah said.

“To say, ‘Hey, this is the situation. Can you recommend anything?’ This event is really, really great at facilitating that.”

Hannah lives with cerebral palsy, which effects everything about daily life.

“I use a wheelchair to navigate the world [and] need constant support,” Hannah said.

“Getting dressed in the morning, getting out of bed, all that personal care stuff.

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“Disability is an active part of my life every single day.”

One of the reasons Hannah chooses to speak up and publicly advocate for change, is because being able to speak isn’t a guarantee with cerebral palsy and she wants to honour the gift.

“I am very aware of the quite literal privilege of having a voice,” Hannah said.

“When I was first given my prognosis as a baby, my parents were told that I would never walk, talk or feed myself.

“I’m very aware that there are people out there, people that I care deeply about, who would give anything to be able to communicate the way that I can.

“So if I can use my voice and my skills as a writer and all of those kind of things to shed light on some of the issues that we face and to make people feel less alone and more seen, then I’m going to do that.”

In recent years Hannah’s voice compelled pop stars Beyonce and Lizzo to change lyrics to songs that included ableist slurs, and her campaign to see Disney create a princess with disability.

“I don’t know how close we are to that happening,” Hannah said.

“They are a huge [company], and they have a very clear agenda that only they know.

“But since becoming part of the film industry myself, and gaining experience and contacts, I am looking at what it would mean to create an animated film with the disabled princess as the lead character independently.

“I’m no longer waiting for their permission,” Hannah said.

The South West Disability Expo will take place February 13th and 14th.

Listen to the full conversation with Hannah Diviney in the player above.

Feature image: Supplied (South West Disability Expo)