People see me and say, “She's not that disabled. She doesn't experience disability in the way that I think about disability.”
[A hand trails over a white metal post, then Caitlin, a woman with long curly dark hair, walks through coloured transparent panels of blue, pink and yellow. In white writing on a blue panel, “She doesn’t look disabled.”]
I'm Caitlin. I'm 21.
[Caitlin holds two small coloured panels in front of her face. She pulls the blue and yellow panels apart to reveal her face, with a slight smile, a loose curling fringe and a straightforward gaze.]
I'm from Tamworth. I study arts and law, and I'm an Ambassador for International Day of People with Disability.
[The recording space has yellow, green, blue and pink transparent rectangular panels of various sizes suspended within a white room. This wide shot includes the sound mike and stand. Caitlin is seated centrally.
[Text Caitlin Blanch, International Day of People with Disability, 2026 Ambassador, in white writing on two-toned blue rectangles.]
[Audio description] Photos of Caitlin as a baby, child, then young adult at a podium.
I have osteogenesis imperfecta type 1A. I'm more prone to having fractures and experience pain and fatigue.
[Back in the studio, Caitlin in half profile against a background of colourful panels backlit by a window.]
My symptoms fluctuate day-to-day. So, sometimes I might use a wheelchair.
[Then photos of Caitlin in a wheelchair in various locations.]
I remember in school, I went on this excursion. I was using my wheelchair because I'd had a fracture. I was sitting in the assembly hall. My teacher came up to me, shook my hand and gave me an award.
[Caitlin in half profile in the studio, then walking through the panels as photos of her appear on them.]
And in my mind, I was thinking, there's literally no way I'm getting an award just for attending the excursion.
[White text I'm getting an award just for attending the excursion??]
[Audio description] Caitlin stands, looking at colourful hanging panels.
I think there's this like tendency to maybe over-glamorise people with disability as either more than or less than human.
And I just want to be seen as human. Like, I think I just want to be seen for the person that I am.
[Wide shot of Caitlin sitting in the studio, she gently taps her fingers together.]
When I was marching at Mardi Gras with People with Disability Australia, I just felt the wholly myself.
[Close up of Caitlin, then sitting in the studio.]
Which I hopefully want to help other people with. That they feel more comfortable in themselves after having a conversation with me.
[Photo of Caitlin holding a sign, then a rainbow flag with People with Disability Australia logo.]
I was really fortunate to have a mum who, when her daughter was diagnosed with practically being fragile, was very persistent in letting me explore what that meant for myself.
Growing up on a farm was a great place to experiment with that. My brothers and I would wreak havoc a lot of the time.
[Photos of Caitlin’s family and living on the farm as a small child; with mum, brothers, on haystack, feeding lambs.]
We had these push pedal tractors. And I would get taken around the farm in the trailer of one of those. I felt very regal. [Laughs]
[Audio description] Photos of Caitlin’s family and living on the farm.
I'm very passionate about disability justice.
In school, I'd started doing debating and public speaking. I enjoyed advocating. I found a lot of fulfillment from that.
[Wide shot of Caitlin sitting in the studio, then video of Caitlin speaking.]
And I entered a competition where I was able to speak about disability. In particular, I was speaking about different laws and law reform.
That really made me realise that I could make an impact.
On this day, International Day of People with Disability, the loudness of our community is actually given a microphone.
[Close up of Caitlin’s black shoes as she wanders slowly through the coloured panels, then back sitting in the studio.]
Hopefully, that sparks conversation. And that's where, in my view, real change happens.
[Audio description] International Day of People with Disability logo and website.
In her video, IDPwD 2026 Ambassador Caitlin Blanch shares her experiences with dynamic disability. She describes being seen as fragile or not taken seriously when her disability is less visible. By sharing her story, Caitlin wants to shift how people see disability and create real change.
This video is audio described. The transcript includes additional descriptions.