Voices

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Amanda shares her lived experience through her blog Her Chronic Wellness, navigating life with the rare neuromuscular condition Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy 2L/R12, which causes progressive muscle weakness in her arms, hips, pelvis, and legs. With no known cure, she approaches her journey with honesty, insight, and compassion. Through personal stories and reflective writing, she offers support, validation, and practical tools for others facing similar challenges. Her work helps make sense of complex health journeys, fosters self-understanding, and reminds readers they are not alone, creating space for resilience, curiosity, and greater awareness.

Chris Lenart, a U.S.-based advocate and founder of Disability Awareness, shares his lived experience with Cerebral Palsy to educate, inspire, and promote inclusion. He is a public speaker, writer, and co-author of the book They Said We Couldn’t, a candid account of living a full and meaningful life with disability. Through his platform, he offers guidance, resources, and practical insights for individuals, families, and communities. By transforming his journey into a source of hope, Chris fosters understanding between communities while advocating for a more inclusive world.

Carly Findlay is an award-winning Australian writer, speaker, and appearance activist based in Melbourne. She lives with ichthyosis, a rare genetic skin condition, and uses her platform to advocate for disability rights, accessibility, and body acceptance. Carly is the author of the memoir Say Hello and editor of Growing Up Disabled in Australia. Her work has appeared widely across media, and she is a sought-after speaker on topics of inclusion, representation, and social change. Through her writing and advocacy, Carly challenges stigma and promotes a more inclusive, understanding society.

Imani Barbarin is a U.S.-based disability rights and inclusion activist, writer, and public speaker living with cerebral palsy. Through her platform Crutches & Spice , she shares insightful commentary on disability, race, and social justice, using storytelling and social media to challenge ableism and amplify disabled voices. A communications professional and internationally published writer, Imani is known for creating viral hashtags that spark global conversations around disability, justice and representation. Her work focuses on intersectionality, empowerment, and reshaping how society understands disability.

Garvin Bollard is a blogger and vlogger based in Australia who shares his experiences living with Asperger’s through his vlog, Life With Asperger’s. As an autistic father, he writes openly about navigating daily life, relationships, and parenting while on the autism spectrum, offering honest and relatable insights into neurodiversity. His content helps raise awareness and encourages understanding by sharing lived experience rather than clinical perspective.

Shani Dhanda is a British disability activist, entrepreneur, and broadcaster based in the United Kingdom, originally from Birmingham, England. She shares insights on accessibility, inclusion, and lived experience of disability through her platform and website shanidhanda.com, focusing on creating a more inclusive society and challenging barriers faced by disabled people.

Nicky Abdinor is a South African clinical psychologist, motivational speaker, and disability advocate. She was born without arms and with shortened legs, and has adapted to live independently, including driving a specially modified vehicle. Through her website nickyabdinor.com, she shares blog posts and insights on disability, inclusion, and accessibility. Her writing combines personal lived experience with professional expertise, focusing on challenging perceptions of disability and promoting greater opportunity, independence, and inclusion for people with disabilities.

Luthando Kekana is based in Johannesburg, South Africa, where she serves as Chairperson of the Association for the Physically Disabled (APD) Greater Johannesburg. She lives with paraplegia, which resulted from a shooting incident around 20 years ago, and uses her lived experience as the foundation of her advocacy work. Through interviews and vlog-style appearances, she speaks about disability rights, accessibility, inclusion, and systemic change in South Africa, with a strong focus on how infrastructure, education, and tourism can become more universally accessible.

Pippa Stacey is a disabled writer, speaker, and content creator based in York, United Kingdom. Through her blog Life of Pippa, she shares lived experiences of managing a chronic illness known as ME/CFS (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome), an energy-limiting condition that significantly affects daily functioning. Her writing explores disability, accessibility, travel, and life with long-term illness, blending personal storytelling with practical advice and advocacy. Her blog also serves as a platform to promote greater understanding of chronic illness and inclusion for disabled people.

Chloe Tear is a disability blogger, freelance writer, and content designer based in the United Kingdom (York, England). Through her long-running blog chloetear.co.uk, she shares lived experiences of living with cerebral palsy and visual impairment, including becoming registered as severely sight impaired. Her writing focuses on disability awareness, accessibility, education, and everyday life as a disabled young woman. She uses her platform to challenge stereotypes around disability and highlight barriers in society while advocating for greater inclusion and understanding.

Voices

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