Anja Christoffersen
Anja Christoffersen, an advocate, entrepreneur, model, and author born with a rare condition, champions disability pride and visibility. She shows that disability is a strength, pushes for self-designed solutions, and inspires others to seek support, embrace identity, and lead with purpose.
Hi, I'm Anja Christoffersen and I'm an
ambassador for International Day of
People with Disability.
I'm a disability advocate, a social
entrepreneur, a model, a speaker and
author and I wear many, many hats. I was
born with a condition called VACTERL association, which is a rare and complex
disability that affects one in 10,000 to
one in 40,000 births.
Disability isn't a dirty word. I think
if I'd actually understood that I had a
disability a lot younger, I would have
accepted a lot more support and a lot
more accommodations. When I'm constantly
looked at as someone that doesn't have a
disability, it is really, really
difficult to walk that fine line of
someone that can be viewed as a model or
a businesswoman. On top of all of that,
I still see about 10 specialist teams at
my hospital. I really have to explain to
people that I'm not well. I might look
fine, but I'm not. I still have days
where I cannot get out of bed. I still
have days where I have to actually drop
everything and not do anything more.
When I was born having such a rare and
complex condition, my parents constantly
wondered what my life would be like
growing up. And honestly, they had no
idea whether or not I would survive. For
me, it was really important that there
was someone like me that parents of the
young babies that are born could look up
to. Disability can be such an incredible
strength. I would never for a second
wish my disability away because it has
given me so much purpose. I just
encourage younger people to always see
your disability as a strength and never
as a weakness. So often the people that
aren't affected by the decision are the
ones that are leading the solutions. But
I think it's time really for us to
actually take our power back to be given
the resources that we need and to design
the solutions ourselves.
Ann-Mason Furmage
Anne-Mason, an ambassador who has lived with disability since childhood polio, advocates for respect, autonomy, and inclusion. She encourages treating disabled people as equals, asking before helping, and creating solutions that improve life for everyone.
I'm Anne-Mason and I'm an ambassador for
the International Day of People with
Disability. I'm proud about that. Where
do I start? I had polio at the age of 12
and my left arm and shoulder and hand
are all paralyzed and have been since
1950.
And so I've learned to live with
disability nearly all my life.
There are some things that everybody can
do to help support the disability
community.
You can treat us like people,
like just everyday ordinary people, cuz
that's what we are.
You can ask before you try to help.
People who use wheelchairs do not always
have a carer and people use wheelchairs
are perfectly able usually to make up
their own minds. It's probably a good
idea to remember that people with
disabilities are people. My inspiration
for getting into the disability movement
was the fact that it was simply
something that needed doing
and I was one of the many many people
who helped to get some of these things
done. I've always believed that sitting
around and pouting and complaining
is is simply not helpful and it doesn't
work usually. But trying to explain to
people why something is needed works
better. And it means that if you make
things easier for people with
disability,
you make it easier for everybody
actually.
Charlie and Lewis Smith
Charlie and Lewis, twin filmmakers from Adelaide with invisible disabilities, use their creativity and passion for inclusive filmmaking to inspire others. As ambassadors, they show that disability is a strength and encourage young people to embrace their talents and pursue their dreams.
Two almost identical young men with wavy
brown hair are side by side. They wear
black rimmed glasses and black long
sleeve jumpers. One wears blue jeans and
one wears black jeans.
Hi, I'm Charlie and I'm from Adelaide,
South Australia. From the Brussels
Valley.
Hi, I'm Lewis. I'm 22 years old. I'm
from Adelaide in the Brussel Valley.
We are thrilled to be ambassadors for
International Day of People with
Disability.
I have a real passion for film making.
We study it through an inclusive film
making program. I also am very
passionate about film making and writing
and we're about to work on a TV show. I
can't mention too much but uh it's going
to be an exciting time. I live with a
mild intellectual disability and some of
the struggles I have mainly like reading
and writing. Sometimes I mispronounce
things or misspell things and in school
that was really difficult and really
challenging. I struggled in primary
school with maths especially especially
handling money but reading and writing
as well was a real struggle. The main
reason why I wanted to become an
ambassador is to not only inspire people
that live with a invisible disability,
but to also inspire many young people
around the nation see the great things
that we are doing and to go with if he
can do it, I can too. Your disability
isn't a weakness, it's a strength. It's
really about embracing what you're good
at in a way. Especially from a younger
age as a child, we had very imaginative
brains and that's really fed into what
we're trying to progress to do now in
film making which is like working behind
the camera writing scripts. We sort of
shut it down in high school, I
think we were more like fearful to say
like this is what we want to do. Having
a brother and a best friend beside you
can really help in those situations. Bus
stop films the inclusive film making
course that we're a part of. It means to
me that I am with like-minded people.
Being around the same community can
really spark your imaginative
creativity. It makes you feel like a
part of a family.
The International Day of People with
Disability logo and website appear.
Giancarlo de Vera
Giancarlo de Vera, an IDPwD ambassador, shares how psychosocial disabilities affect his daily life but also fuel his leadership. As a queer person of colour, he advocates for visibility, diverse voices, and empowering disabled people to embrace their full, authentic selves.
Hi, I’m Giancarlo de Vera,
and I am an ambassador for
International Day of People with Disability.
My disabilities, a lot of them are psychosocial in nature.
I find it really hard to regulate my emotions.
I find it really hard to have just general executive functioning.
Sometimes I find it very difficult to think clearly, concentrate,
because I’m always feeling overwhelmed. [Laughs.]
I’m a success story in a lot of ways. I graduated from law school,
even though it took me double the time to do it.
For me the most important thing when I think about
all the identities I hold as a human being,
is the fact that this is a common experience.
There are so many queer people, of colour, who are disabled.
What’s missing is people like me, talking about experiences
and solutions to our experiences
and our problems and issues, together.
So what drives me in having these intersecting identities
is the ability to start the conversation
and to continue the conversation.
And ultimately find the opportunities where we
can be our full selves — our full, authentic selves.
The first thing that will benefit the community is to
get rid of every assumption that it is about disability.
Everyone’s experience with disability is unique.
The disability community is incredibly diverse.
I think about the fact that people like me
don’t think they can be leaders.
When you’ve got people who have diverse experiences
and who are natural problem-solvers, they make great leaders.
So I need people who have diverse experiences
to think that they are leaders, because you are a leader.
Grace Edward
Grace Edward, an IDPwD ambassador and multidisciplinary artist, lost vision in one eye at age four. She advocates for authentic representation of CALD disabled communities and co-founded YCDC to empower young people to share experiences and build a more inclusive future.
Hi, my name is Grace Edward,
and I'm an ambassador
for International Day of People with Disability.
I am a multidisciplinary artist. I write, produce and direct.
I am the youngest of seven kids.
My family migrated to Australia in 2003 from Kenya,
although we’re originally from South Sudan.
When I was born, I was not born a person with a disability.
I had an accident at the age of four
that took my vision in my right eye.
My cultural background or the fact that I live with a disability
are equally as important as the other.
The biggest challenge in living in Australia is
is not really seeing both of those communities
for a long time represented authentically.
I need to speak up about these things,
because they don’t only affect me,
but I see how it affects my communities.
At my first visit with a specialist here in Australia
I was told I shouldn’t play sport.
I didn't listen to the doctor.
For most of my adolescence I played football with a club.
Football, the correct word for it. [Laughs.]
I had so much fun being in a team environment;
a supportive team environment.
And to not let someone or something stop me
from doing what I want to do.
YCDC is a youth disability CALD collective.
I co-founded the group in 2020 and we are
a supportive peer space for young people with lived experience
of disability from cultural and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
It really came out of a need of — we can
talk about our experiences.
There are cultural nuances that other people
may not be able to understand.
The biggest thing is seeing that we have so many young people
who I think are going to continue making the disability space
much more inclusive and that gives me so much hope
in the future.
They give me so much hope.
Gretta Serov
Gretta, a writer, speaker and business owner from Western Sydney, is a non‑verbal wheelchair user with severe cerebral palsy. As an ambassador, she aims to challenge stigma, represent severely disabled people, and advocate for respectful communication and inclusion.
When people first meet me in public, all
sorts of questions come into their minds
and usually out of their mouths. Well,
to formally introduce myself, my name is
Gretta and I'm a 32 year-old
woman from Western Sydney. I'm a writer,
motivational speaker, graphic designer,
workshop designer, and facilitator,
manager of my own care team, and a
business owner. And I'm also a non-verbal
wheelchair user, as I've had severe
Cerebral palsy since I was born. Growing
up with my disability did have its
challenges. However, when I think about
what I've achieved over the last two
decades, I really am amazed. I never
would have imagined that I would be
living by myself with the perfect care
setup and a university degree in my
hand. Once I got through the excitement
and shocked that I was offered this
incredible ambassador role, the main
opportunity I saw was to represent the
non-verbal, severely disabled sector.
There are still very real stigmas joined
to this group. I am hoping that this
opportunity will shed some light on the
integration of the disability enabled
community and especially our rights to
have mainstream relationships
because honestly these are the most
difficulties I struggle with surrounding
my disability. The thing I would say to
people who meet someone with any
disability is always assume they are
cognitively functioning. Even if they
display signs of intellectual
impairment, always acknowledge them in
the conversation and speak at their age
level.
Hannah Diviney
Hannah Diviny, a 2023 IDPwD ambassador, champions representation and inclusive language. A writer and advocate, she sparked a global conversation on ableist lyrics, influencing major artists. She promotes acceptance, resilience, and the power of advocating for yourself.
Hi, I'm Hannah Diviney and I'm an
ambassador for International Day for
People with Disability for 2023. I
agreed to become an ambassador because I
feel that representation is really
important and that the more visible
disabled stories can be in the community
and in the broader world, the better
it's going to be for the 4 million of us
who have disabilities around the
country. One thing that I would love to
shape about society, I think it would be
creating a world where people's
differences and unique needs and
abilities were accepted and catered for.
Words have so much power. I mean, I'm a
writer by trade. I'm a storyteller. So,
words are my bread and butter. And I
think for me calling out ableist
language has always been motivated by
wanting people to understand how much
words matter. I was on Twitter and I
noticed some friends of mine were
expressing discomfort with a lyric that
that Lizo had written in a new song of
hers. So I wrote a tweet. It took me
less than 5 minutes and then my phone
went ballistic for a couple of days.
Lizo ended up changing the lyric, the
world's media covered it, and then 6
weeks later, Beyonce did the same thing.
I ended up starting a global
conversation and disabled people's
perspectives were heard around the
world.
I think advocacy has taught me a lot
about being resilient, about the
importance of choosing your words and
acting with care. Please know that if
the that if the only person you can
advocate for is yourself, that's more
than enough.
Hugo Taheny
Hugo “Rock Star” Taheny shares his journey from after‑school athletics to becoming a record‑breaking professional. He inspires people with disability to pursue their goals, promotes inclusion, and celebrates community on World Disability Day.
My name is Hugo Taheny.
I like to [be] called Hugo Rock Star.
I started doing athletics after school.
Now I am [a] professional athlete.
I do shot put… discus… breaking records.
[A] friend of mine, he said:
“Oh my god! My mate got a record!”
And everyone started cheering my name.
Now the gold medal — it’s me.
And I want [to] show the people what I do in athletics.
I want to show the people with disability what I do.
I want to help them for their goals, their futures and lives.
We have different types [of] disability.
Just treat us how we treat you: not different or special.
World Day for the People with Disability,
it means they help us [to be] part of [the] community.
We’re here [to] celebrate us.
We make Australia a good place.
Rock Star out.
Michael Theo
Michael Theo, an IDPwD ambassador known from Love on the Spectrum, values connection and inclusion. Seen as an inspiration, he encourages embracing individuality, seeking happiness, and surrounding yourself with supportive people, reminding us that diversity makes the world interesting.
Hi everyone, I'm Michael Theo and I'm an
ambassador for International Day of
People with Disability. Ever since I've
appeared on Love on the Spectrum, a lot
of people in the autistic and challenge
communities seem to view me as a
inspiration, which still still kind of
surprises me to this day. And I
sometimes get stopped in public by
people and some of them even ask for a
selfie which I always allow because it
puts a smile on their face and it makes
their day.
As society, we have to accommodate for
all kinds of people whether we're
neurodiverse or not. We're still just
people at the end of the day. I want the
same things as everybody else.
Financial freedom, financial security, a
loving partner to share my life with.
Community means when everybody in the
world from all walks of life come
together and unite as one. A lot of
friends that I made in high school have
all come and gone, but some people have
chosen to stick by me, and I'm really
grateful for that. I would say to people
in the autistic and challenged
communities that find what makes you
happy. Surround yourself with people
that actually bring the best out of you.
Everyone's different. We're not made to
be uniform. If we were all uniformed,
the world would not be an interesting
place.
Dr Scott Avery
Dr Scott Avery, a proud Worimi man and deaf academic, teaches Indigenous studies and disability. As an IDPwD ambassador, he highlights untold First Nations disability stories and champions inclusion, reminding young people they are capable despite barriers.
Wiyabu, which is hello in my native language of Gathang.
I’m Dr Scott Avery.
I’m very proud and humbled to be an ambassador
for International Day of People with Disability 2023.
I’m a Worimi man, which is in New South Wales.
I’m also deaf, so I have to say I’m proud times two.
Proud of my Worimi heritage,
but also proud of being a deaf person.
I’ve got a lovely wife, with two daughters.
I teach both Indigenous studies and Indigenous disability
at universities across Australia.
We’re very proud of the publication ‘Culture is Inclusion.’
The artwork is by an Aboriginal artist with disability,
who’s named Uncle Paul Calcott.
A Yindyamarra, and it actually tells the story of disability.
So this came from me going out
to the First Nations disability community and asking people,
tell us your story.
And I think this is very much an untold story in Australia.
People are discovering it,
not just for the book it is, but for the stories that are in it.
When the invitation to be an ambassador
for International Day of People with Disability
is actually quite humbling
and I think the best way for me to talk about inclusion,
I need to actually send your minds back 25,000 years.
Out in Lake Mungo in Western New South Wales,
there’s these footprints in the clay.
And amongst those footprints is this single right line of footprints.
And the archaeologists went, what’s going on here?
So they asked the Aboriginal Elders and they said,
that’s a one-legged man on a hunt.
And they’re with community.
They’re participating in community life.
And this idea of, look we take all comers,
this is what inclusion means
and this is how the world means it to be.
There have been times where I have really struggled with it
and it’s this idea of you “suffer”.
I don’t suffer hearing loss.
It’s my natural world. I’m OK with it.
I know in some parts of the education system,
there would be a 14-year-old Aboriginal child
who’s being told, you can’t cut it.
And I'm going — they’re wrong.
They’re wrong. You can.