Disability Inclusion Week: 12-16 September 2022

The University of Sydney Library celebrates Disability Inclusion Week!

The theme for 2022 is Celebrating Excellence. We’ve compiled a Read, Watch, Listen list for learning more about what it’s like to live with disability, focusing on people’s achievements, as well as a list of further resources to help you get involved.


READ | WATCH | LISTEN


Eliza Hull

What is it Like Being a Parent with a Disability? Watch online

When ABC producer Eliza Hull became pregnant with her daughter, she took a crash course in parenting. 7.30, ABC TV, aired 3 December 2018. Running time: 5 min.

Never Needed Fixing Read online

It took a while – and involved wearing thick long pants on schoolday summers – but now Eliza Hull recognises her disability as one of her greatest qualities.
Eliza Hull, The Big Issue Australia, 2021 (628), p 18–19.

Eliza Hull: On Breaking the Stigma Around Disability Listen online

Musician, journalist and writer Eliza Hull talks to Cheryl Akle about her journey into motherhood, and her experiences living with a disability. Her book We’ve Got This, the first major anthology of stories written by parents with disabilities, is out now.

Stories Behind the Story: Better Reading podcast, aired 25 April 2022. Running time: 27 min


Kurt Fearnley AO

Kurt Fearnley’s One Plus One: Series 2021 Watch online

Kurt Fearnley talks to some well-known Australians who have faced challenges and setbacks in their lives, only to overcome them and go on to make a real difference. What drives them and what does it take to reach their goals?

One Plus One, ABC TV, aired 2021. Running time: 27 min

Kurt Fearnley Talks About What Drives Him Watch online

Kurt Fearnley talks with Allianz, a supporter of the Australian Paralympic Committee, about what drives him and what it takes to succeed on and off the track.
Australian Paralympic Team, YouTube, 28 October 2011. Running time: 4 min


Carly Findlay OAM

Growing Up Disabled in Australia Read online

Growing Up Disabled in Australia is the fifth book in the highly acclaimed, bestselling Growing Up series. It includes interviews with prominent Australians such as Senator Jordon Steele-John and Paralympian Isis Holt, poetry and graphic art, as well as more than 40 original pieces by writers with a disability or chronic illness.

Carly Findlay (ed.), Growing Up Disabled in Australia. Melbourne: Black Inc., 2021.

Say Hello Read online

‘There are very few stories where the character that looks different is the hero of the story. I’ve been the hero of my story – telling it on my own terms, proud about my facial difference and disability, not wanting a cure for my rare, severe and sometimes confronting skin condition, and knowing that I am beautiful even though I don’t have beauty privilege.’

Carly Findlay, Say Hello: How I Became my own Fangirl; A Memoir and Manifesto on Difference, Acceptance, Self-love and Belief. Sydney: HarperCollins, 2019.


Alice Wong

Disability Visibility: First-person Stories from the Twenty-first Century Read online

A ground-breaking collection of first-person writing on the joys and challenges of the modern disability experience, Disability Visibility brings together the voices of activists, authors, lawyers, politicians, artists and everyday people whose daily lives are, in the words of playwright Neil Marcus, “an art . . . an ingenious way to live”.

Alice Wong (ed.), Disability Visibility: First-person Stories from the Twenty-first Century. New York: Vintage Books, 2020.

Interview with Alice Wong on the Disability Visibility Podcast Listen online

In-depth interviews and discussions with leaders and creators from the disability community, on disability identity, culture, activism and politics, with an emphasis on intersections of disability and race, gender, sexuality and other marginalised identities.

Alice Wong, Disability Visibility Project podcast, disabilityvisibilityproject.com. Running time: approx. 40 min


DISABILITY INCLUSION SUPPORT RESOURCES

Apps for Accessibility

Check out this comprehensive set of links to connect University staff and students with apps available on the market that may assist people with disability or chronic illness.

https://canvas.sydney.edu.au/courses/1316/pages/apps-for-accessibility

DISABILITY INCLUSION AT THE LIBRARY

Access, inclusion and diversity are at the heart of the work we do at University of Sydney Library. We seek to inspire a love of learning in order to advance the academic potential in everyone. We are committed to providing all staff and students the opportunity to get involved and build a stronger understanding of the challenges people face when living with disability. The Library provides many events, services and resources to ensure everyone feels welcome and has equal opportunity to study, learn, teach and research at the University of Sydney.

Clients with Disability

Pop over to the Library webpage devoted to helping the community understand and connect with Library and University accessibility support services.

https://www.library.sydney.edu.au/libraries/accessibility/