Growing Up Disabled in Australia

A rich collection of writing from those negotiating disability in their lives - a group whose voices are not heard often enough

'My body and its place in the world seemed quite normal to me.'
'I didn't grow up disabled, I grew up with a problem. A problem those around me wanted to fix.'
'We have all felt that uncanny sensation that someone is watching us.'
'The diagnosis helped but it didn't fix everything.'
'Don't fear the labels.'

One in five Australians have a disability. And disability presents itself in many ways. Yet disabled people are still underrepresented in the media and in literature.

Growing Up Disabled in Australia is the fifth book in the highly acclaimed, bestselling Growing Up series. It includes interviews with prominent Australians such as Senator Jordon Steele-John and Paralympian Isis Holt, poetry and graphic art, as well as more than 40 original pieces by writers with a disability or chronic illness.

Contributors include Dion Beasley, Astrid Edwards, Jessica Walton, Carly-Jay Metcalfe, Gayle Kennedy and El Gibbs.

About the Author

Carly Findlay is a blogger, writer, speaker and appearance activist. She challenges people's thinking about what it's like to have a visibly different appearance. She has a loyal and ever growing national and international audience, having written for many publications including SBS, The Guardian, Daily Life, The ABC, Mamamia, Frankie magazine and BlogHer. She has also contributed to Rebecca Sparrow's book Ask Me Anything and Tara Moss' book Speaking Out.

She was named as one of Australia's most influential women in the Australian Financial Review and Westpac 100 Women of Influence Awards for 2014. She received the 2010 and 2013 Yooralla Media Awards for Best Online Commentary for her body of disability-focused writing. (She declined the 2014 Yooralla Media Award for ethical reasons.) She also won the best personal blog category for Kidspot Voices of 2013, and the 2013 BUPA Health Activist award for Positive Life Change. She's also been a finalist in the Best Australian Blogs competition in 2011, 2012 and 2014.