Professor Justin Yerbury AM: Don't let your disability define you Labelling The Disabling

In this episode we hear from Professor Yerbury how a lived experience of disease and disability can strongly inform and benefit the progression of research into treatments and therapies. Justin explains some of the latest research and theories about the causes and treatments for the disease that he himself has, Motor Neuron Disease (MND). MND is actually the name for a group of debilitating and progressive neuro degenerative diseases, and we learn how common and impactful these conditions actually are. Justin describes personal challenges with surgery and the NDIS and how, as individuals and as a society, we must continue to remove barriers to allow people to flourish. He has a range of practical suggestions for things we can do to improve accessibility for people with disability in terms of participating in advocacy and policy change (including contributing to your local council's disability inclusion action plan). He also reminds us that there is no instruction manual for disability that we need to stay ahead of symptoms, and how, regardless of disability, everyone can make a positive contribution. (Oh and Ed and Carol got a selfie as we were a little bit star-struck!)