Dylan Alcott Australian of the Year Acceptance Speech
Start a new blog in your online portfolio to discuss the following:
Watching Dylan’s acceptance speech above, what do you notice?
What does he say about disability?
What do you think this moment means for Australians with disability?
1, Dylan’s gratitude is especially striking, as his acceptance speech is highly anecdotal.
“I was born with a tumour wrapped around my spinal cord… [2:30] (ABC News 2022)” – what a devastating fact! And yet, Dylan states that he would never give up his disability for the extraordinary life it has gifted him.
2, Dylan recounts his journey from despair and self-hate due to his disability to accepting and embracing the difference. He champions (accurate) equal representation and opportunity for people with disabilities. He says that he doesn’t want to give advice because anyone with a disability already knows what it is they need to do.
3, I have no idea what this event may mean for Australians with disability.
It may mean a shift in consciousness is happening towards people with disabilities.
It may only be a singular event for a successful athlete.
I hope that those who are touched by Dylan’s speech will not merely be moved to sympathy, compassion and gratitude for life; I hope they will consider what actions they can take to rectify social conditions for people with disabilities and improve life everywhere.
Herald Sun article – Dr George Taleporos
Dr George Taleporos represents the opposite end of a dialectical approach to thinking about disability.
While Dylan may be able to embrace and even love his disability, there is a degree of severity in disability that may make it extremely difficult, if not downright impossible, for the individual with a disability to love it and to love their life.
To ameliorate this, science must continue uncovering and innovating remedies for the various conditions that constitute a disability. In addition, society needs to do what it can to transform itself for people with disabilities.
References
ABC News 2022, Dylan Alcott’s Australian of the Year acceptance speech in full ^ ABC News, YouTube video, viewed 24 December 2022, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cM_sr4d5OQ.
Klein, M 2022, Australian of the Year Dylan Alcott, photo of Dylan Alcott, Herald Sun, Victoria, viewed 28 December 2022, https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/tennis/disability-advocate-has-one-problem-with-dylan-alcotts-speech/news-story/f5187d067486b276a4049a4bf9f04cc2.
Independent Advisory Council 2022, photo of Dr George Taleporos, Independent Advisory Council to the NDIS, viewed 28 December 2022, https://www.ndis-iac.com.au/dr-george-taleporos.
