X Ability Start-Up
Donation protected
In Australia over 4 million people, which is around 1 in every 5 people have some form of disability. Each day they struggle to find employment, be represented and have the same opportunities as you and I.
They are simply cast aside as they are seen to be “too difficult” or “incapable”. These preconceived ideas are dangerous for our societies perceptions of people with disabilities and the perceptions of themselves. If you are told something enough you begin to believe it, we like to believe that everyone is capable of everything and anything. Although a large number would believe that, this would only apply to those who are able bodied and minded. This belief however is extremely dangerous and threatening to the disabled community. The people within the community need the opportunity to showcase what they can do, who they can be and what they can achieve.
I personally know first-hand how the representation for these people is needed. My sister, was born in 2002, with Turner Syndrome; a genetic condition that only affects females, specifically about 1 in every 2,500 girls. Turner Syndrome attributes to her short stature, ear infections & hearing loss, attention deficit, her learning ability and reproductive sterility – meaning my sister may never be able to have a child. Which is extremely disheartening for me as I know no other person who would make a better mother than my sister. But for the record, I nor any other member of my family would change anything about her. We don’t see the disability we see the ability in her.
I do accredit the creation of X Ability to my sister her determination and yearning to learn and thrive where it was once thought she would be unable to. Her passion for everything she does inspired myself to create an avenue to make a change and fight for a wider change on the acceptance and inclusion of people with disabilities. By rallying for support from the wider public I hope that we, together can drive our nation towards a future where, we, as a country can work together side by side, hand in hand with the disabled community to provide safe and inclusive environments, just like we would aim to achieve for anyone else.
We as a society need to realise that just because someone has a disability, they are not worthless or a burden, they are more than capable of achieving anything they set their minds to, perhaps they need it explained a different way in which they understand or modified to make it easier for them to achieve these goals. We not only ask for equality but equity. Each person is different, they have different strengths, different weaknesses. We all need a little help in certain areas so why should people with disabilities be overlooked for employment or representation simply because they may require a bit more assistance than an able bodied individual?
On the creation of X Ability I have found that the brand has two meanings in which I find reflect the values and heart behind the brand. The ‘X’ in X Ability is meant to represent erasing of ‘dis’ from the word ‘disability’ as I firmly believe that if we look past the disability and see the ability in a person we become a lot more accepting and open-minded.
The second meaning of the brand name cannot be accredited to myself but my Dad. He explained to me that in mathematical terms the letter ‘X’ represents and unknown factor, put together with the Ability half of the brand, X Ability represents the unknown quantity or calibre or ability that many people possess but are unable to showcase. Through which I hope my brand gives them an avenue to explore and use the support to showcase and display their talents and skills for all to see.
Because even the smallest change can make a massive impact in the lives of people with a disability, and not only them but their family, the employers and the community as a whole.
Because you are part of a change a change that is redefining the standards of normal. Society is beginning to realize that no one is normal, the bounds and restraints of normality are being challenged, we are writing the script of a new normal, a different normal. In fact, it is the Different that makes us normal in the end isn't it?
They are simply cast aside as they are seen to be “too difficult” or “incapable”. These preconceived ideas are dangerous for our societies perceptions of people with disabilities and the perceptions of themselves. If you are told something enough you begin to believe it, we like to believe that everyone is capable of everything and anything. Although a large number would believe that, this would only apply to those who are able bodied and minded. This belief however is extremely dangerous and threatening to the disabled community. The people within the community need the opportunity to showcase what they can do, who they can be and what they can achieve.
I personally know first-hand how the representation for these people is needed. My sister, was born in 2002, with Turner Syndrome; a genetic condition that only affects females, specifically about 1 in every 2,500 girls. Turner Syndrome attributes to her short stature, ear infections & hearing loss, attention deficit, her learning ability and reproductive sterility – meaning my sister may never be able to have a child. Which is extremely disheartening for me as I know no other person who would make a better mother than my sister. But for the record, I nor any other member of my family would change anything about her. We don’t see the disability we see the ability in her.
I do accredit the creation of X Ability to my sister her determination and yearning to learn and thrive where it was once thought she would be unable to. Her passion for everything she does inspired myself to create an avenue to make a change and fight for a wider change on the acceptance and inclusion of people with disabilities. By rallying for support from the wider public I hope that we, together can drive our nation towards a future where, we, as a country can work together side by side, hand in hand with the disabled community to provide safe and inclusive environments, just like we would aim to achieve for anyone else.
We as a society need to realise that just because someone has a disability, they are not worthless or a burden, they are more than capable of achieving anything they set their minds to, perhaps they need it explained a different way in which they understand or modified to make it easier for them to achieve these goals. We not only ask for equality but equity. Each person is different, they have different strengths, different weaknesses. We all need a little help in certain areas so why should people with disabilities be overlooked for employment or representation simply because they may require a bit more assistance than an able bodied individual?
On the creation of X Ability I have found that the brand has two meanings in which I find reflect the values and heart behind the brand. The ‘X’ in X Ability is meant to represent erasing of ‘dis’ from the word ‘disability’ as I firmly believe that if we look past the disability and see the ability in a person we become a lot more accepting and open-minded.
The second meaning of the brand name cannot be accredited to myself but my Dad. He explained to me that in mathematical terms the letter ‘X’ represents and unknown factor, put together with the Ability half of the brand, X Ability represents the unknown quantity or calibre or ability that many people possess but are unable to showcase. Through which I hope my brand gives them an avenue to explore and use the support to showcase and display their talents and skills for all to see.
Because even the smallest change can make a massive impact in the lives of people with a disability, and not only them but their family, the employers and the community as a whole.
Because you are part of a change a change that is redefining the standards of normal. Society is beginning to realize that no one is normal, the bounds and restraints of normality are being challenged, we are writing the script of a new normal, a different normal. In fact, it is the Different that makes us normal in the end isn't it?
Organizer
Jack Holland
Organizer
Colac West VIC
