D. 100 // 31-40
31 // Proud Poppy Clothing: For years Proud Poppy have been representing people with disabilities in all their marketing. They were the first brand I thought of when you announced the list. Great to see them naturally make people of all abilities a normal part of their content.. www.proudpoppyclothing.com.au
32 // Unstoppable eCommerce: Karyn Parkinson is an eCommerce marketing mentor based in Australia, and the founder of Unstoppable eCommerce. Living with ADHD, dyslexia and facial paralysis, she’s deeply driven to make the online business world more accessible and inclusive. Through her signature program, eComm Ignitor, Karyn supports neurodiverse entrepreneurs by designing learning experiences that cater to different brains — think checklists, quick-win tasks, multi-format resources and interactive progress boards that help get ideas out of their heads and into action without overwhelm. https://unstoppableecomm.com
33 // Wayde Clark - Alejandro Lauren: Wayde Clarke, also known by his creative alter ego Alejandro Lauren, is a queer, Aboriginal artist and qualified art therapist based on Wiradjuri/Birpai country in Australia. As a proud gay person of colour, Wayde’s work celebrates cultural identity, challenges social perceptions and shines a light on the power of art to heal and connect. www.alejandrolauren.com
34 // Ruby Susan Mountford: Ruby Susan Mountford (they/them) is an activist and inclusion strategist breaking down barriers in queer and disability spaces. Based in Naarm, Ruby is known for their visionary leadership and grassroots connection, bringing bold, practical solutions to systems that overlook intersectionality. @keptonice
35 // Michelle Pownell: Over the past 4 years I have become a content creator on Instagram and more recently on Tiktok, sharing videos, images and stories about disability, or fun fashion, or sometimes both. I have modelled for various advertising and marketing campaigns, plus have modelled in fashion runways. This is such a great way to increase diversity in advertising and showcase disability visibility. @michellepownell
🚜 Rural. Regional. Disabled. Leading anyway.
36 // Ebony Craigie: I moved from a big city to a small town Merimbula, NSW — I noticed a huge difference in the extreme lack of community and inclusive events. This year I have started up an All abilities AFL team, run inclusive speed dating events and currently planning an inclusive silent disco. I have impacted so many family’s and people with disabilities - giving them more opportunities in our small community. It just makes me feel HAPPY! I do all of this volunteer work in my spare time. @emcdisabilitysupport
37 // Leah Ladson: I found myself in a severe autistic burnout after covid lockdown (but didn’t know what it was) after giving birth to my Son and simultaneously trying to homeschool school my 2 young daughters. It took me years to figure out what was going on for me, turns out I’m autistic! I’ve spent the last few years advocating for myself and for my children (who are also ND) in a world that doesn’t really understand us, particularly the school system. neurokind was built to educate teachers on the complexities of autism & ADHD and has slowly shifted into being a safe, inclusive place online for my community to feel seen & heard. We are in the startup phase (and haven’t had a lot of time to put into this business as I already run my own successful photography business) but my dream is to show up in a bigger way and to reach more people. @neuro_kind
38 // Ange McArthur: Ange is working in a role she’s been grateful to have set for herself, to accommodate her chronic illness and disability support needs. As an independent NDIS support coordinator & Psychosocial Recovery Coach, Ange works with participants just like herself - zebras, often late diagnosed neurodivergent and living with co-existing psychosocial disabilities and chronic illness. www.acmcarthurservices.com.au
39 // Sarah Rose: Author, Disability Advocate, Three-time Paralympian, Speaker. Sarah Rose is a bold and authentic disability advocate who’s spent her life shifting the narrative — first through sport, now through storytelling and visibility. A three-time Paralympic swimmer, Sarah proudly represented Australia at the Athens, Beijing, and London Games, winning bronze in 2004. But her biggest impact has come after sport — as a mother, author, and quiet powerhouse working to reshape how children and society understand disability. @sarkaterose
40 // Laura Pettenuzzo: Laura Pettenuzzo is a disabled reader, writer and accessible communications professional. She hopes to shift attitudes and understanding of disability by sharing her memoir and opinion pieces about disability rights and disability pride. Her writing has appeared in Griffith Review, ABC Lifestyle and The Age, among other places. Laura’s work focuses on the impacts of systemic and internalised ableism, notably the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the importance of authentic disability representation in media. She advocates for accessibility and disability rights through her positions on various committees, including the Victorian Disability Advisory Council and Yarra Trams Accessibility Reference Group. She is also co-editing an upcoming anthology of nonfiction by disabled writers, to be released through New South in 2026. This year, Laura started All for Access, a disability-led communications business, which has so far delivered Easy Read for organisations such as Sovereign Hill, Cerebral Palsy Alliance and LGBTQIA+ Health Australia. www.allforaccess.com.au
