Akii Ngo and Bridget McArthur sit down with special guest Elly Desmarchelier, a passionate advocate and campaigner to discuss all things disability rights for all Australians with disability this upcoming federal election, the importance of the Every Australian Counts #DefendOurNDIS campaign and how you can make a positive difference to support disabled Australians.

We also discuss general electoral promises made by political parties and how they will shape the lives and futures of many Australia. Content note: this episode mentions #Robodebt and the devastating impact that scheme had on the community and mentions of suicide.

Elly Desmarchelier (she/her) is a proud, queer, disabled woman living with cerebral palsy. She is passionate disability advocate, writer, disability rights campaigner and national spokesperson for the Every Australian Counts Defend Our NDIS campaign. 

Elly is always up for chatting or writing about issues impacting disabled women/people -  from the NDIS, COVID vaccinations, economic participation, to whatever is happening in the wild world of politics on any given day. 

Her favourite part of advocacy work is supporting and working alongside other women and people with disability, because no matter their age, job, or type of disability, every one of them is a leader in their own way. Elly lives in Meajin (aka Queensland) with her partner and 2 rambunctious dogs! 
 

[Image ID: Elly, a while woman with light pale skin, bright shoulder length red hair is sitting in a wheelchair front Australia’s Parliament House. Elly’s wheelchair is black, sleek and modern. Elly so wearing a blue coat, dark rust coloured pants and a ‘Defend Our NDIS’ pin on her chest]