Sophie Delezio, Keynote Speaker 12.04.24

"There is never gonna be a time when life is 100% fair for all, but I do genuinely believe that the disabled community have been pushed aside socially for far too long. It is incredible that we have the healthcare that we do and the disability schemes that we have, but so often, that only goes so far."

We all get taught in school about the importance of representation and history. We are told to accept everyone despite their size and appearance. Yet if you're in a wheelchair or have any physical impairment, it's suddenly not their issue. There is no part of the Australian curriculum where one is taught about the disability movement, and there is no legal requirement to have accessible access to school grounds.

I often get asked, 'What is the hardest part of living a disabled life?' It's not the surgeries or the pain; it's the fact that I and others in my community are the ones who have to spread awareness of our challenges to others. So often, I have children asking me what happened, and instantly, their parents hush them, but why? It is not something to shame them for being curious about; it is not something I am ashamed of at all. Let them ask. By ushering your child away, you are not letting them learn that having a disability is normal and okay. It is estimated that in Australia, 18% of our population has a disability; in New Zealand, it is 24%.

So often, people cannot comprehend the life of someone with a physical disability. It's too "otherworldly" to understand. But imagine if it was talked about at school; imagine if there was a day when you had to live the life of a person with a disability for a moment in time. In my opinion, that would solve a lot of the issues we face on a daily basis. We always see able-bodied people making decisions on our behalf. Still, maybe if they understood how to live our lives, there would be more people with disabilities in government, making a difference in the country.

There is never gonna be a time when life is 100% fair for all, but I do genuinely believe that the disabled community have been pushed aside socially for far too long. It is incredible that we have the healthcare that we do and the disability schemes that we have, but so often, that only goes so far.

When you look at the modelling industry, you now see plus-size models, models of all colours, and not one that looks like the stereotypical image of what used to be known as a model. But it is so rare to see a model with burns or a model in a wheelchair, unless it's for a sporting ad. My young self's image of body expectancy and beauty would be so different if I saw more models out there showing off their scars and body shapes. But times have changed now, and one can only hope that things will get better for the generations to come.

Written by Sophie Delezio