Navigating Disability

Seeing The Unseen: Advocacy and Hidden Disability

Join us for a profoundly personal and impactful conversation with Morgan Fitzpatrick—a visionary advocate, transformative leader, and unwavering champion for inclusion and early childhood development. In this episode, we move beyond theory and into the heart of lived experience.  Morgan is at the forefront of driving systemic change in how we identify, support, and empower children with developmental delays and their families.  She brings not only professional expertise but also a critical, insider's perspective: her own journey with hidden disabilities, including Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). We delve into: · The Landscape of Support: What’s missing in our current systems for early childhood development, and how we can build more empathetic, effective pathways for families. · The Strength in the Unseen: Morgan opens up about the daily realities, challenges, and unique strengths that come from navigating a world not designed for invisible conditions. She sheds light on the gap between looking well and being well. · Where Paths Converge: How does lived experience with hidden disability shape a more compassionate, urgent, and innovative approach to advocacy for children? We explore the powerful synergy between these two worlds. · A Call for Nuance: Moving past awareness to true understanding and actionable support—in medical settings, educational spaces, and our communities. This is more than just an interview; it’s a bridge between often-siloed conversations about health, disability, and childhood.  Morgan’s story is a testament to the power of leading from a place of deep personal truth to create a more inclusive future for all. Tune in for a conversation that challenges perceptions, celebrates resilience, and illuminates the path toward a world where no child, no person, is left unseen or unsupported. Connect with Morgan through her socials: https://www.linkedin.com/in/morgan-a-fitzpatrick-08555946 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/morgan-a-fitzpatrick-08555946]

Redefining Ability: A Conversation with Isaac Harvey

Join us today for an inspiring episode of Navigating Disability with Isaac Harvey MBE—a remarkable disability advocate, acclaimed content creator, and President of Wheels and Wheelchairs. Born with limb-pelvic hypoplasia, Isaac has mastered using his feet with incredible dexterity to edit videos, navigate the digital world, and tirelessly campaign for a more accessible future.  His life is a testament to adventure and defiance of limits: from skydiving and sailing tall ships to modeling adaptive fashion on the runway at London Fashion Week. Honoured with an MBE in 2023 for his services to disability advocacy, Isaac is dedicated to challenging societal perceptions and driving inclusion through powerful storytelling and community engagement. For Isaac, life has been a roller coaster. He credits his supportive friends and family, who constantly encourage him to be the best version of himself, as crucial in helping him navigate his disability.  He openly shares his early struggles in a London where public transport was far less accessible than it is today to how he navigated disability throughout his journey. Tune in as we explore Isaac’s extraordinary journey, the resilience he’s built along the way, and the profound impact of his advocacy work.  This episode is a powerful reminder of the strength of the human spirit and the importance of building an inclusive world for everyone.  Connect with Isaac through his socials: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamisaacharvey?  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamisaacharvey?igsh=c3l2Y21iMTc4aGlw  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/isaacharvey-videoeditor

Lived Experience & Leadership: Clare Stewart’s Journey with Youngcare

In this profoundly moving episode of Navigating Disability, we sit down with Clare Stewart, whose remarkable journey as a barrister, author, and former Mayor of Noosa is underpinned by a pivotal, life-shattering event.  Clare's journey with disability began with the accident that changed everything. In a moment of sheer terror, trapped and convinced she would die as both her legs were crushed, her life—and the lives of those who loved her—were forever transformed.  From that physical and emotional crucible, a powerful advocate was forged. This raw, lived experience became the unshakeable foundation of her new purpose.  Clare channeled the profound understanding from her own survival into a relentless mission: to fight for accessible housing and genuine inclusion for all people with disability. Her deep commitment is embodied in her journey with the organization Youngcare, where she evolved from a passionate volunteer to a strategic Board Director, and now, to its visionary CEO. Join us for a conversation that explores the space between trauma and triumph. We delve into: · The Origin of Advocacy: How the accident that began her disability journey fundamentally reshaped her perspective on law, policy, and community. · The Anatomy of Resilience: What does it truly take to rebuild a sense of self and a career after catastrophic change? · From Lived Experience to Leadership: Why is personal insight the most critical and compelling tool for driving systemic change? · Building a Legacy of Change: How to turn personal passion into effective policy, shifting both structures and mindsets. Clare’s narrative is not one defined by loss, but by profound redirection. It is a powerful testament to how a single moment can become the catalyst for a life of immense impact.  This episode is essential listening for anyone interested in authentic leadership, the power of story in advocacy, and the tangible work of building a world where everyone can thrive. Connect  with Youngcare through their socials: Facebook: @YoungcareOz https://www.facebook.com/YoungcareOz [https://www.facebook.com/YoungcareOz] Instagram: @YoungcareOz https://www.instagram.com/youngcareoz [https://www.instagram.com/youngcareoz] LinkedIn: @YoungcareOz https://www.linkedin.com/company/youngcare [https://www.linkedin.com/company/youngcare] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/YoungcareOz/about [https://www.youtube.com/c/YoungcareOz/about]

Two Lenses, One Focus: From Lived Experience to Corporate Life

This time, Navigating Disability sit with a leader whose life and work are woven from both profound professional expertise and deeply personal experience.  Meet Jeramy, he steers the ship as CEO of a Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) Alliance, lends his voice as a member of the Disability Council of NSW, and serves as a dedicated Non-Executive Director, all in pursuit of a more inclusive world for people with disabilities. For over a quarter of a century, Jeramy has navigated the disability sector, blending a heart for not-for-profit work with a sharp business mind.  But what truly shapes Jeramy's mission is the story he carries with him. A workplace injury once led to a permanent neurological condition, gifting him a lived experience of disability that informs his every decision.  He is a proud father of four, and his passion is further kindled by walking alongside his daughter, who lives with autism, hypermobility spectrum disorder, chronic pain, and psychosocial disabilities. Throughout his career, Jeramy has been a catalyst for change—driving sector-wide reforms, managing complex organizational transformations, and advocating fiercely, both for systemic change and for the rights of each individual.  Connect with Jeramy through his socials:  https://linktr.ee/JeramyHope [https://linktr.ee/JeramyHope] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeramyhope/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeramyhope/] https://www.linkedin.com/company/sdaa-specialist-disability-accommodation-alliance/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/sdaa-specialist-disability-accommodation-alliance/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SDAAllianceAus/ [https://www.facebook.com/SDAAllianceAus/] https://www.facebook.com/SDAAllianceAus/ [https://www.facebook.com/SDAAllianceAus/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeramyhope/ [https://www.instagram.com/jeramyhope/]

The Insider Advocate: Parenting Through NDIS, Reforming from Within

How can personal experience create more effective public policy?  In this episode of Navigating Disability, we speak with Chloe Jesson, a passionate advocate for community mental health, a policy reformer, and the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Queensland Alliance for Mental Health.  With deep experience in the not-for-profit sector, she leads initiatives that amplify the voices of lived experience and champion grassroots solutions to complex mental health challenges. As the mum of a neurodiverse daughter navigating the NDIS, Chloe brings both professional and personal insights into the systemic barriers facing families.  Her advocacy is fuelled by her lived experience supporting her twins through early intervention and sensory supports, and her work driving sector-wide change is grounded in the belief that everyone deserves to feel connected, seen, and supported. Chloe is also a board member of two community organisations and a postgraduate student, currently completing her Master of Public Policy and Governance. She is particularly passionate about the role of social connection as a protective factor for mental health and the urgent need to reimagine what true inclusion looks like - both in policy and in practice. Connect with Chloe Jesson:  LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/chloejesson [http://www.linkedin.com/in/chloejesson]