Navigating Disability

Kate Read and Jenn Abbott

Welcome to the Navigating Disability Podcast Show!! Your hosts, Kate Read and Jenn Abbott are committed to changing the narrative around 'normal' and 'ability' and look so forward to sharing our weekly guests with you! Get ready to be inspired, empowered and enlivened as we dive into education, lived experiences, expert advice, behind the scenes on political movements and how YOU, our listeners can THRIVE within your community! So this means, if you, your family, client or loved one are impacted by disability, you've landed on the right channel. We know how daunting the future can seem from time to time, and when you know you can lean into expert advice and interviews to get your questions answered or your faith renewed, the journey can feel more achievable. Be sure to subscribe and hit the alerts so you never miss an episode of NAVIGATING DISABILITY with your resident support experts and researchers, Kate Read and Jenn Abbott.

  1. 4D AGO

    Seeing The Unseen: Advocacy and Hidden Disability

    Join us for a profoundly personal and impactful conversation with Morgan Fitzpatrick—a visionary advocate, transformative leader, and unwavering champion for inclusion and early childhood development. In this episode, we move beyond theory and into the heart of lived experience.  Morgan is at the forefront of driving systemic change in how we identify, support, and empower children with developmental delays and their families.  She brings not only professional expertise but also a critical, insider's perspective: her own journey with hidden disabilities, including Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). We delve into: · The Landscape of Support: What’s missing in our current systems for early childhood development, and how we can build more empathetic, effective pathways for families. · The Strength in the Unseen: Morgan opens up about the daily realities, challenges, and unique strengths that come from navigating a world not designed for invisible conditions. She sheds light on the gap between looking well and being well. · Where Paths Converge: How does lived experience with hidden disability shape a more compassionate, urgent, and innovative approach to advocacy for children? We explore the powerful synergy between these two worlds. · A Call for Nuance: Moving past awareness to true understanding and actionable support—in medical settings, educational spaces, and our communities. This is more than just an interview; it’s a bridge between often-siloed conversations about health, disability, and childhood.  Morgan’s story is a testament to the power of leading from a place of deep personal truth to create a more inclusive future for all. Tune in for a conversation that challenges perceptions, celebrates resilience, and illuminates the path toward a world where no child, no person, is left unseen or unsupported. Connect with Morgan through her socials: https://www.linkedin.com/in/morgan-a-fitzpatrick-08555946

    35 min

  2. JAN 26

    Redefining Ability: A Conversation with Isaac Harvey

    Join us today for an inspiring episode of Navigating Disability with Isaac Harvey MBE—a remarkable disability advocate, acclaimed content creator, and President of Wheels and Wheelchairs. Born with limb-pelvic hypoplasia, Isaac has mastered using his feet with incredible dexterity to edit videos, navigate the digital world, and tirelessly campaign for a more accessible future.  His life is a testament to adventure and defiance of limits: from skydiving and sailing tall ships to modeling adaptive fashion on the runway at London Fashion Week. Honoured with an MBE in 2023 for his services to disability advocacy, Isaac is dedicated to challenging societal perceptions and driving inclusion through powerful storytelling and community engagement. For Isaac, life has been a roller coaster. He credits his supportive friends and family, who constantly encourage him to be the best version of himself, as crucial in helping him navigate his disability.  He openly shares his early struggles in a London where public transport was far less accessible than it is today to how he navigated disability throughout his journey. Tune in as we explore Isaac’s extraordinary journey, the resilience he’s built along the way, and the profound impact of his advocacy work.  This episode is a powerful reminder of the strength of the human spirit and the importance of building an inclusive world for everyone.  Connect with Isaac through his socials: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamisaacharvey?  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamisaacharvey?igsh=c3l2Y21iMTc4aGlw  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/isaacharvey-videoeditor

    25 min

  3. JAN 24

    Lived Experience & Leadership: Clare Stewart’s Journey with Youngcare

    In this profoundly moving episode of Navigating Disability, we sit down with Clare Stewart, whose remarkable journey as a barrister, author, and former Mayor of Noosa is underpinned by a pivotal, life-shattering event.  Clare's journey with disability began with the accident that changed everything. In a moment of sheer terror, trapped and convinced she would die as both her legs were crushed, her life—and the lives of those who loved her—were forever transformed.  From that physical and emotional crucible, a powerful advocate was forged. This raw, lived experience became the unshakeable foundation of her new purpose.  Clare channeled the profound understanding from her own survival into a relentless mission: to fight for accessible housing and genuine inclusion for all people with disability. Her deep commitment is embodied in her journey with the organization Youngcare, where she evolved from a passionate volunteer to a strategic Board Director, and now, to its visionary CEO. Join us for a conversation that explores the space between trauma and triumph. We delve into: · The Origin of Advocacy: How the accident that began her disability journey fundamentally reshaped her perspective on law, policy, and community. · The Anatomy of Resilience: What does it truly take to rebuild a sense of self and a career after catastrophic change? · From Lived Experience to Leadership: Why is personal insight the most critical and compelling tool for driving systemic change? · Building a Legacy of Change: How to turn personal passion into effective policy, shifting both structures and mindsets. Clare’s narrative is not one defined by loss, but by profound redirection. It is a powerful testament to how a single moment can become the catalyst for a life of immense impact.  This episode is essential listening for anyone interested in authentic leadership, the power of story in advocacy, and the tangible work of building a world where everyone can thrive. Connect  with Youngcare through their socials: Facebook: @YoungcareOz https://www.facebook.com/YoungcareOz Instagram: @YoungcareOz https://www.instagram.com/youngcareoz LinkedIn: @YoungcareOz https://www.linkedin.com/company/youngcare YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/YoungcareOz/about

    29 min

  4. JAN 12

    Two Lenses, One Focus: From Lived Experience to Corporate Life

    This time, Navigating Disability sit with a leader whose life and work are woven from both profound professional expertise and deeply personal experience.  Meet Jeramy, he steers the ship as CEO of a Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) Alliance, lends his voice as a member of the Disability Council of NSW, and serves as a dedicated Non-Executive Director, all in pursuit of a more inclusive world for people with disabilities. For over a quarter of a century, Jeramy has navigated the disability sector, blending a heart for not-for-profit work with a sharp business mind.  But what truly shapes Jeramy's mission is the story he carries with him. A workplace injury once led to a permanent neurological condition, gifting him a lived experience of disability that informs his every decision.  He is a proud father of four, and his passion is further kindled by walking alongside his daughter, who lives with autism, hypermobility spectrum disorder, chronic pain, and psychosocial disabilities. Throughout his career, Jeramy has been a catalyst for change—driving sector-wide reforms, managing complex organizational transformations, and advocating fiercely, both for systemic change and for the rights of each individual.  Connect with Jeramy through his socials:  https://linktr.ee/JeramyHope LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeramyhope/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/sdaa-specialist-disability-accommodation-alliance/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SDAAllianceAus/ https://www.facebook.com/SDAAllianceAus/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeramyhope/

    37 min

  5. JAN 5

    The Insider Advocate: Parenting Through NDIS, Reforming from Within

    How can personal experience create more effective public policy?  In this episode of Navigating Disability, we speak with Chloe Jesson, a passionate advocate for community mental health, a policy reformer, and the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Queensland Alliance for Mental Health.  With deep experience in the not-for-profit sector, she leads initiatives that amplify the voices of lived experience and champion grassroots solutions to complex mental health challenges. As the mum of a neurodiverse daughter navigating the NDIS, Chloe brings both professional and personal insights into the systemic barriers facing families.  Her advocacy is fuelled by her lived experience supporting her twins through early intervention and sensory supports, and her work driving sector-wide change is grounded in the belief that everyone deserves to feel connected, seen, and supported. Chloe is also a board member of two community organisations and a postgraduate student, currently completing her Master of Public Policy and Governance. She is particularly passionate about the role of social connection as a protective factor for mental health and the urgent need to reimagine what true inclusion looks like - both in policy and in practice. Connect with Chloe Jesson:  LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/chloejesson

    29 min

  6. 12/30/2025

    Lost in Plain Sight: An ADHD Journey to Self-Discovery

    In this reflective episode, Navigating Disability sit down with Abdul Haseeb, a figure whose personal story has inspired a global conversation.  Known as Pakistan's first ADHD coach, Haseeb's true identity is that of a neurodiversity storyteller and mental health advocate who speaks from the heart of lived experience. Haseeb’s relationship with ADHD began at 14, with a diagnosis that came thanks to his uncle's observation. Growing up in an environment with no framework or support for neurodivergence, his diagnosis was a label without a guidebook.  He was left to navigate the complexities of his own mind alone, facing what he calls "the ADHD effect": an internal force that constantly drove him to leave his comfort zone, yet also trapped him in a cycle of impossibly high standards and relentless self-criticism. This conversation delves into the intimate and often unseen emotional landscape of that journey. Haseeb opens up about the weight of those self-imposed expectations, the stress that became a familiar shadow, and his long, deliberate path toward self-acceptance. He shares the shift in learning to "bomb" himself with positivity—a conscious, daily practice of countering ingrained negativity with radical self-kindness. Now staying in Perth, with a perspective shaped by connections across cultures and continents, Haseeb discusses the universal themes of finding one's place in a world not designed for you. He also touches on the origins of the ADHD Rebel Center not as a service, but as a concept born from a community's need for recognition and understanding. Connect with Haseeb through his socials:  Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/adhd_haseeb/LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/haseebwaqar/Email – adhdcoachingwithhaseeb@gmail.com

    44 min

  7. 12/22/2025

    Seeing in The Dark: The Unwavering Vision of Fiona Demark

    What does it mean to truly see? For disability advocate Fiona Demark, vision was never a guarantee, but a diminishing resource.  Today, Navigating Disability sit with Fiona Demark, an advocate for disability. Born with approximately 40% sight due to recessive genes, a genetic legacy she shares with her sister, Fiona’s world was always one of gradual erasure. Around the ages of five or six, doctors delivered a vague yet certain verdict: complete blindness was in her future. The how was understood, but the when remained a haunting mystery.  Fiona’s life became a unique and protracted journey of goodbye, a slow farewell to colors, faces, and the visual landscape, all while learning to construct a new way of being in real-time. This episode is a deep, intimate conversation with Fiona about navigating a life in fade-to-black.  Fiona’s story is not one defined solely by loss. It is a powerful narrative of creation and love against the odds. She opens up about a dream she once thought impossible: motherhood. With raw honesty, she discusses the fears and personal way of raising two daughters in a sighted world without the use of sight.  How do you guide a toddler, took them somewhere else, or share in the beauty of a rainbow? Fiona’s answers are as innovative as they are heartwarming. Now living with blindness, Fiona lived in her experience and turned it into fierce advocacy.  Listen to Fiona Demark’s journey and discover how the most profound sight often has nothing to do with the eyes. Connect with Fiona Demark through her socials: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fiona.demark?igsh=MTF0OGs1dmFkd2xsOQ== Facebook: Fiona Demark - Blind Inspiration  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fionademark

    33 min

  8. 12/15/2025

    Between Two Worlds: A Journey Through Profound Differences and Finding Her Voice

    What does it mean to feel different, even within the community where you're supposed to belong?  In today's episode, Navigating Disability seat with Fiona Fonti, a dedicated advocate for disability rights and accessibility. Fiona works to raise awareness about the challenges many face and the importance of inclusive spaces. From the age of three, Fiona Fonti navigated the world as a profoundly deaf person. But her journey toward connection was far from straightforward. Growing up, she encountered a surprising isolation: upon finding the deaf community, she discovered that not all deaf experiences are the same. Communication styles varied, and she often felt caught between worlds—not quite fitting in, and yet not like the hearing world either. Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions about burn out and overwhelmed experience due to medical conditions. Please take care while listening. Need support? Call Lifeline on 13 11 14 In this intimate conversation, Fiona opens up about the loneliness of that "in-between" space and the lifeline that was her two deaf siblings, who provided a unique sanctuary of understanding. She also shares a pivotal, recent chapter: her diagnosis with ADHD combined type, which added a new layer to her understanding of self. This is not just a story about deafness. It's a universal story about identity, the search for belonging, and the families—both chosen and given—that help us find our voice. Join us as Fiona Fonti shares how she transformed her experience of profound difference into a powerful force for advocacy and self-acceptance. Connect with Fiona Fonti: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fionafonti?igsh=MXIwdTV3d3dkMmtnZQ== LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fionafonti

    40 min
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About

Welcome to the Navigating Disability Podcast Show!! Your hosts, Kate Read and Jenn Abbott are committed to changing the narrative around 'normal' and 'ability' and look so forward to sharing our weekly guests with you! Get ready to be inspired, empowered and enlivened as we dive into education, lived experiences, expert advice, behind the scenes on political movements and how YOU, our listeners can THRIVE within your community! So this means, if you, your family, client or loved one are impacted by disability, you've landed on the right channel. We know how daunting the future can seem from time to time, and when you know you can lean into expert advice and interviews to get your questions answered or your faith renewed, the journey can feel more achievable. Be sure to subscribe and hit the alerts so you never miss an episode of NAVIGATING DISABILITY with your resident support experts and researchers, Kate Read and Jenn Abbott.

Information

  • Creator
    Kate Read and Jenn Abbott
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    62
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Navigating Disability
  • Show Website
    Navigating Disability