Watching Dylan’s acceptance speech above, what do you notice?
A key element of the speech is that a disability is something to be proud of. In the speech, he states that he could be paid enough money in the world to engage in medical trials that might change his interaction with his disability (Alcott and ABC News (Australia), 2022). He also states that people who don’t have a disability need to work to make the one in five Australians who have a disability to also be proud of that disability (Alcott and ABC News (Australia), 2022). This particular phrasing is used throughout the speech and shows a general theme that, according to Dylan Alcott, people who have a disability should be supported so that their disability can be something to be proud of instead of looked down upon, ashamed of or hated.
What does he say about disability?
As mentioned above, I believe he is stating that a person who has a disability shouldn’t be ashamed, looked down upon or hated and should instead be supported to be able to be proud of having that disability. He also makes particular note that people with “…lived experience…” should be asked what they need to live the life that wish (Alcott and ABC News (Australia), 2022). In my own summary, he frames disability as an asset to one’s life that the world can make difficult to benefit from.
What do you think this moment means for Australians with disability?
As I do not have a disability, I can only make assumptions about how this moment would be perceived. Having someone who has a disability win Australian of the year and use that platform to bring awareness to people who have a disability could be seen as an empowering moment. It could give someone with a disability someone to aspire to be. The moment could give rise to a better representation of people who have a disability in awards, in media and in sport, just as examples. He also makes note of this in his speech, saying that people who have a disability should be represented “…absolutely everywhere…” (Alcott and ABC News (Australia), 2022). With better and more common representation, it is likely that people who do not have a disability could can a better understanding of people who have a disability.
References:
Alcott, D. and ABC News (Australia) (2022). Dylan Alcott’s Australian of the Year acceptance speech in full | ABC News. YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cM_sr4d5OQ.
