The Truth About Growing Up Disabled | Dylan Alcott | TEDxYouth@Sydney

Dylan Alcott wasn't always a Paralympic champion. He grew up disabled, but it might not be what you think. In this engaging and funny talk, Dylan tells us what it's really like growing up with a disability.

Dylan Alcott OAM is a Paralympic gold medalist, World Champion, Grand Slam champion and world record holder for both wheelchair basketball and wheelchair tennis. In 2008, Dylan won Gold at the 2008 Beijing Paralympic games at the age of 17, the youngest ever winner of a wheelchair basketball gold medal. In 2013, Dylan switched sports to wheelchair tennis, and in 2015 won his first grand slam title at the Australian Open. Dylan was born with a large tumor wrapped around his spinal cord, leaving him a paraplegic. He is a keen advocate for people with disabilities, and is an ambassador for the charities Starlight Foundation and Variety which help change the lives of kids with disabilities across the country. Dylan is also a music enthusiast, and is well known for his wheelchair crowdsurfing at music festivals.

[kbal]

Dylan is exactly right, disability should be visible in mainstream media. People with disabilities should also embrace it where they need to and go out and enjoy life.

[moriahbackhaus]

Growing up as a wheelchair user I can empathize with most of what he said. It is hard never seeing anyone like you. I 100% agree that we need more people with disabilities in mainstream media. Not just characters with disabilities played by able-bodied actors, that drives me crazy! The idea that disability is a bad thing is very pushed by the media, and part of reason is that disabled characters are either looking for a cure, miserable, or suicidal (Me Before You, I'm looking at you!). Thankfully things are starting to change with shows like Speakless and movies like Wonder, but we need more representation.

[StephWeller]

I definitely think that as disabled people we need to stand up to those who resist the visibility of disabled people. The more disabled people that are visible in day to day life and in mainstream media, the quicker perceptions will change.

[thisgirl]

I think people need to hear that having a disability is not a tragedy, that you can be happy. This is the message I keep seeing from parents of children with Down Syndrome. It changed my perception for sure.

[Kymo]

You have become the role model you didn’t see when you were younger Dylan, you should be very proud that the disabled look at you and say everything and anything is possible. 🙏🏼

[wotchras]

i have a disability as well and i seek to educate peole about it, just like you do. keep it up mate

[tammydreamwriter]

I was one of those kids that had a really hard time growing up, and I have to thank you for this video. I would love to see more on this topic because it IS so important.

[Rapunzel]

I remember the Australian singer Jeff St John. He was an active musician in the sixties and seventies. Wheelchair, spina bifida, it didn't stop him rocking out! Good points from Dylan, thanks for putting this TEDx Talk up.

[miraculouslyhealedGCS]

Wins best TED Talk ever!!! Thank you Dylan! You are an amazing human, a strong athlete, and a very skilled, humorous speaker!

[beaugeste]

You are an amazing man Dylan, your advocacy for the rights & gifts of para athletes & people with so - called disabilities has been sensational as has been your sportsmanship. You will always be in my favourite athletes, people ever, thank you True Blue you are a Champion in every sense of the word 👍🙏❤️

[debblackmore]

Since my hidden disability I have lost friends and family but I'm a survivor and I carry on you find out who are true friends and who are not worth me stay strong stay positive sending luck hugs prayers most of all love from headway Nottingham UK takecare you got this xxx

[amylindemann]

I am a Special Education Teacher and plan to show this to my students to facilitate self-awareness! Thank you!

[jenniferdavis]

Same here, Dylan. 7x cancer survivor... which has brought on a mess of disability. But not all for all the tea in the world would I take that magic pill to go back in time. I love who I am, but I wouldn't be who I am without the disability.

[dicouch]

I wish you knew what you would be in 7 years... you would be the example you are talking about in this talk. Awesome ❤

[debblackmore]

Well done keep going doing amazing things stay strong stay positive stay safe I have hypoxia brain injury I died 26minutes spent weeks months in coma rehab hospital learning talk walk again been a recovery massive discovery never ever give up on yourself many will never yourselves keep going doing amazing things amazing well done Dylan sending luck hugs prayers most of all love from headway Nottingham UK we got this x

[SharonifeomaTV]

I live with a disability too. Thanks for inspiring me with this video.

[paulking]

Now, he's the only male calendar year Golden Slam champion. Absolute legend.

[kurttrimble]

Excellent point made! Greatly enjoyed this video presentation!

[erictaylor]

Something I learned growing up as an amputee, you need to focus on the things you can do. Don't worry about the things you can't do.
Another thing I learned, I can't run fast. There was only one foot race I was in growing up in PE class where I didn't finish dead last. Once, when I was in first grade I pushed a girl down as she passed me, so I finished 2nd to last. I felt terrible afterward and I was sure I would get in trouble when she told on me, but she never did, which just made me feel worse. That day of course I learned, cheating isn't worth it.
But what I learned many years later was, the person who finished in last place finished.

[cindyhalpern]

Both my brothers were in wheelchairs. And in their short lives, they got out there. This was long before this Ted Talk. They were trend setters.