Greetings reader,
I’m back from a holiday break and looking forward to the new year ahead. I hope all is as well as can be out there, and folks survived the christmas/end of year season.
Some sad news late last year. We lost Stella Young unexpectedly at age 32. One of the many things i loved about Stella, is she worked to break down the stigma often present for anyone in a wheelchair. Here is a bit about her and you can check out her TED talk at the bottom of this piece. I was a huge fan of her work on the T.V. series ‘No limits’. Vale Stella, and thank you.
Stella Young (24 February 1982 – 6 December 2014) was an Australian comedian, journalist and disability advocate.
Young served as the editor for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation‘s online magazine, Ramp Up.[8] Before joining the ABC, she had worked as an educator in public programs at Melbourne Museum, and hosted eight seasons of No Limits, a disability culture program on community television station Channel 31.[9]
Having previously appeared in several showcases and group shows, Stella made her festival debut as a solo performer at the 2014Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Her show Tales from the Crip, directed by Nelly Thomas, won her the award for best newcomer at the festival.[9]
Young did a TEDxSydney talk in April 2014, entitled “I’m not your inspiration, thank you very much”, in which she deconstructed society’s habit of turning disabled people into what she called “inspiration porn.”[6]
She was a member of the boards of the Ministerial Advisory Council for the Department of Victorian Communities, Victorian Disability Advisory Council, the Youth Disability Advocacy Service and Women with Disabilities Victoria.
Here is Stella in action:
http://www.ted.com/talks/stella_young_i_m_not_your_inspiration_thank_you_very_much?language=en
Indeed folks, there are no limits! With a new year comes new energy we can tap into.
Take it easy out there and kick some arse in your own way.
Greg \MH/
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