International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD) is coming up on 3 December, and this year’s theme is “Transformative Solutions for Inclusive Development: The Role of Innovation in Fuelling an Accessible and Equitable World.”
We’ve curated a list of inspiring Disability Speakers and advocates who can bring these themes to life with stories of inclusion, accessibility, and innovation. They can tailor presentations to your organisation’s needs, delivering insightful, engaging content.
Interested in booking a speaker? Get in touch today to make your IDPwD event truly impactful.
If you're looking for a Speaker to share their powerful and inspiring story at your next event, contact our expert team on 1300 799 823 or enquire here for more information.
A true story of triumph over tragedy, Curtis McGrath is a unique para-canoeist.
On August 23, 2012, his life changed forever. The young soldier was two months into his tour in Afghanistan when he stepped on a homemade landmine, losing both legs in the blast. He has had a fantastic 2024 Paris Paralympics campaign, defending his Para Canoe title winning his third-consecutive Paralympic gold in the Men's 200m Kayak single final. An emotional Curtis McGrath has praised his family after adding another chapter to his decorated career by winning a fourth Paralympics gold medal.
Elizabeth Wright is an Australian Paralympic Medallist and ABC journalist with a drive to help people understand what disability is, the issues disabled people face and how to be a better disability ally.
Elizabeth was born with limb difference and since childhood has advocated for her right to be included in mainstream schooling, in sports, at university and in the workplace. A master at reinvention and spotting allies and opportunities, since retiring from the sport, Elizabeth has been an artist, academic, writer, and magazine editor.
Sam Bloom is a 2x World Para Surfing Champion, bestselling author, and the inspiration behind the Australian film and Netflix hit Penguin Bloom, starring Naomi Watts. In 2013, while on holiday in Thailand with her family, Sam fell six meters onto concrete after leaning on a rotten balcony railing. Her injuries were severe, shattering her spine, rupturing her lungs, and causing brain bleeding. Beyond facing the reality of never walking again, her spirit was crushed. In the Paris Paralympics, she set a world record in the women's long jump T61 with a 5.45m leap, winning gold.
Tap into some serious positivity whilst understanding the true meaning and impact of diversity & inclusion. With an OAM, an AM & 17 Paralympic medals under her belt, in 2021 Ellie Cole became Australia’s most decorated female Paralympian.
At age three, her right leg was amputated after she suffered a life-threatening sarcoma cancer, but rather than dwell on adversity, Ellie has instead shown an incredible ability to overcome the odds.
It’s not only her courageous story but her unrivalled sense of humour, wonderful humility and never-say-die attitude that make her a true inspiration.
Nas Campanella is the ABC's national disability affairs reporter.
Nas started her career at the ABC as a cadet journalist in Sydney in 2011 before working as a regional reporter in Bega on the New South Wales far south coast. She then spent seven years working as a newsreader, reporter and senior producer for Triple J and other ABC platforms. Nas has also undertaken projects with ABC International Development, running initiatives for people living with disability across the Pacific.
Nas lost her sight when she was six months old. Nas also has a sensitivity condition called Charcot-Marie-Tooth which means she can't read Braille.
Australian of the Year 2022, Dylan Alcott AO, is one of the country's most successful and recognized Paralympians. In 2021, he became the only male tennis player to achieve the 'Golden Slam', winning the Australian, French, Wimbledon, and US Open Championships, along with a gold medal at the Tokyo Paralympic Games. At the 2016 Rio Paralympics, Dylan Alcott was among the few to win two gold medals in different sports across Olympic or Paralympic Games. He claimed another gold at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, cementing his status as the greatest wheelchair tennis player.
Paralympian. Gold medallist. Lingerie model. Entrepreneur. Intuitive business mentor. Babe with a mobility aid. Elle Steele has a resume like no one else.
Truly one-of-a-kind, what connects Elle’s many achievements and skillsets is the belief that when we are brave enough to connect to our personal power, we can begin to heal our hearts and achieve greatness.
Elle was born with a congenital disability called arthrogryposis, and a hand abnormality. With over 35 surgeries, including two knee replacements, Elle has overcome countless physical and mental challenges throughout her life.
Alexa Leary is the very definition of determination. The budding triathlon star’s world changed in an instant after a cycling accident on the Sunshine Coast in July 2021.
Her front wheel clipped the bike ahead at 70 km/h and Alexa landed on her head resulting in major brain damage, blood clots and several broken bones. She spent over 100 days in hospital.
While recovering in the hospital, her family started a fund-raising campaign called ‘Moveforlex’ which raised over $130,000 for enhanced care at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital Neurosurgery Ward with a focus on equipment and family support.
Alex Noble is a wise 19-year-old, who experienced a traumatic life-changing injury when he broke his neck playing rugby in 2018 leaving him a permanent quadriplegic.
Alex was an academically unmotivated student who solely focused on sports until his injury forced him to adapt to change. While trekking his way through hospital/rehab recovering and learning how to live his new life, Alex was told he needed to complete his HSC over a few extra years and graduate without his year group. By the end of year 12, he graduated with his year group, received a gold certificate for application to studies, received a 96.7 ATAR and placed third in NSW for PDHPE.
In the tapestry of storytellers, Caleb Rixon stands as a luminary. Trained at the distinguished Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) and the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA), he emerged not just as an artist, but as a rare and profound storyteller.
Caleb's narrative is woven from threads of triumph over adversity. From the seismic shift of a life-altering stroke at 24 to becoming a global advocate for stroke and brain injury survivors; his journey resonates through esteemed platforms like ABC News, ABC TV, ABC Radio National, ABC Melbourne ‘Homespun’, SBS Insight, and Channel Seven’s House of Wellness.
DR HANNAH MACDOUGALL
Hannah brings a unique blend through practically and meaningfully applying well-being science to leadership, high-performance, inclusion, and belonging. When combined with lived experience as a female amputee through story and connection, you have an amplified recipe to create significant change.
