Stella Young
Stella Young
Stella Jane Youngwas an Australian comedian, journalist and disability rights activist...
NationalityAustralian
ProfessionComedian
Date of Birth24 February 1982
CountryAustralia
bodies disabled model quite society subscribe tells term
I use the term 'disabled people' quite deliberately, because I subscribe to what's called the social model of disability, which tells us that we are more disabled by the society that we live in than by our bodies and our diagnoses.
people
People are uncomfortable about disability, and so interactions can become unintentionally uncomfortable.
The killing of a disabled person is not 'compassionate'. It is not 'euthanasia'. It is murder.
enormous faced persistent throughout trying
Many of us, particularly those of us with disabilities who have faced persistent discrimination throughout our lives, not least when trying to find employment in the first place, take enormous pride in our hard-fought jobs and careers.
accessible alone cool disability employer employing feat job wheelchair workplace
The battle to find a workplace that's wheelchair accessible is a feat in itself, let alone an employer who's going to be cool about employing someone with a disability in a job you actually want to do.
disability living works
The thing about living with any disability is that you adapt; you do what works for you.
adult death flawed fragility life plan remain symbol
I am not a snowflake. I am not a sweet, infantilising symbol of fragility and life. I am a strong, fierce, flawed adult woman. I plan to remain that way, in life and in death.
change great
Apologies are great, but they don't really change anything. You know what does? Action.
default face hear interact mean people unsure
We often hear that people mean well: that so many just don't how to interact with people with disabilities. They're unsure of the 'right' reaction, so they default to condescension that makes them feel better in the face of their discomfort.
bombarded bottles bucket head ice requests seems
From pink water bottles for breast cancer to dumping a bucket of ice water on your head for neuromuscular conditions, it seems we're bombarded by requests to be 'aware' of one thing or another.
people
People with disabilities are simply part of diverse communities in the U.S.
dictates life
By far, the most disabling thing in my life is the physical environment. It dictates what I can and can't do every day.
death
Death is not treatment, even if it's medically facilitated.
boxes chunk disabled fair filling forms given life love people quite recording spent ticking time
I really love filling out forms - quite fortuitous, really, given that as one of Australia's 4 million-ish disabled people, ticking boxes and recording my life for other people is what I've spent a fair chunk of my time doing.