Navigating Disability

Kate Read and Jenn Abbott
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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. DEC 22

    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

  2. DEC 15

    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

  3. DEC 8

    The Height of Fatherhood: From Dwarfism to Dad-ism.

    What defines a life? Is it the challenges we're born with or the choices we make in spite of them? In this powerful episode of Navigating Disability, we sit down with Kris Hammons, a man whose first memory isn't of a birthday or a holiday, but of a profound medical intervention: a chest surgery to secure his airway. He's a product manager, writer and motivational speaker. He helps dads 10x their grit so that they can grow it in their kids and lead the generations ahead. Born with a constellation of disabilities—including dwarfism and a cleft palate, Kris’s early life was a testament to survival. But this conversation isn't just about survival. It's about thriving. Kris takes us on his journey from the operating table to the head of the family table. Now a devoted husband and father of four, who's one of them have rare type of dwarfism, he opens up about the beautiful, complex reality of building a family. He shares the unique challenges and profound joys of parenting, the lessons learned from his own childhood that he applies to raising strong, confident children, and how he fosters a home where difference is not just accepted but celebrated. This is a story that moves from patient to patriarch, from being defined by a diagnosis to defining a legacy of love. Join us for an honest, inspiring, and deeply human conversation about family, fortitude, and finding your place in the world. Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions about medical trauma. Please take care while listening. Need support? Call Lifeline on 13 11 14 Connect with Kris on his social media:  LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/krishammons Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/krishammons Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/krishammons TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@krishammons

    41 min

  4. DEC 1

    Born to Rise: From Childhood Cancer to The Paralympic Stage

    Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions about medical trauma and PTSD. Please take care while listening. Need support? Call Lifeline on 13 11 14 From a challenging start as a toddler to becoming Australia's most decorated female Paralympian. Today, Navigating Disability sit with Ellie Cole. Ellie Cole's story is about quiet resilience and finding your own path. Ellie was diagnosed with cancer at the age of two and had her leg amputated at three. She was lucky to grow up in a family that encouraged her to try everything, never treating her disability as a barrier. That changed when she started school. For the first time, some adults began to set limits on what they thought she could do. It was a difficult shift, but Ellie didn't let those opinions define her. She discovered a love for swimming, a space where she felt strong and free. That passion led her to the pool, where her natural talent and determination took over. Ellie went on to compete in four Paralympic Games, winning 17 medals—six of them gold—and became a respected voice for athletes with disabilities. Her journey isn't about dramatic heroics, but about steady perseverance, challenging assumptions, and excelling at what you love. Connect with Ellie Cole: 👉🏼Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elliecoleswim?igsh=MXd6eHZ4MDVvNGo0eQ== 👉🏼LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellie-cole-am-ply-224b0319b

    47 min

  5. NOV 24

    Beyond Survival: A Life Reclaimed After Rare Diagnosis

    Trigger warning: This episode contains discussion of health struggles and trauma. Please take care while listening. Need support? Call Lifeline on 13 11 14. What does it mean to build a life of purpose when your body has been fighting you since childhood? Today, Navigating Disability sit with Eliot Carroll. Before his tenth birthday, Eliot was diagnosed with Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis (LCH). His childhood wasn't defined by playgrounds and playdates, but by two life-altering brain surgeries, a complex dependence on medication, and the profound limitations of a body that couldn't keep up.  He learned to navigate the world from hospital rooms and the sidelines, a witness to a "normal" life that always seemed just out of reach. But this isn't a story of sickness. It's a story of strength. Eliot has decoded a powerful truth: a life limited in activity is not a life limited in impact.  Now, he uses his voice as a microphone for the marginalised. As a passionate disability rights advocate, he breaks down barriers, challenges stereotypes, and fights for a world where access and understanding are not privileges, but fundamental rights. Connect with Eliot Carroll: Eliot's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eliotcarroll/

    27 min

  6. NOV 17

    Disability Isn’t Broken: It’s Insight, Identity, and Strength

    What happens when you grow up expecting to be “fixed” and later learn that your disability isn’t something to hide, but a source of insight, purpose and power?  In this episode, Kate and Jenn sit down with Anja Christoffersen, an award-winning disability advocate, social entrepreneur, and 2025 QLD Excellence in Women’s Leadership Award winner. Anja discusses her powerful story of living with a complex disability and turning that lived experience into a mission for change. Born with anatomical differences and spending the first five years of her life in hospital, she believed she would be “fixed” only to discover later that disability isn’t about being broken, it’s about navigating life differently. Anja shares her teenage years of masking, invisibility, trauma from repeated surgeries, and how that shaped her understanding of identity, equity and leadership. She then takes us into her work: sitting on a health‑service executive board, launching a toilet‑paper startup (“Shit Happens”) to create inclusive change, and building a network of women with disabilities entrepreneurs. We explore how she defines disability today, bowel and bladder challenges, swallowing and breathing difficulties, chronic fatigue, and how she channels those realities into advocacy and economic innovation. Tune in to hear Anja’s advice for anyone feeling stuck by their disability: “Give yourself more credit. What you do matters.” Learn how you can support disability‑led business, challenge the “inspiration porn” narrative, and engage with change on a systems level. Listen, share and subscribe, you’ll leave inspired, empowered and ready to take action. See more from Anja: Shhithappens Website:  https://shhithappens.com.au/   Shhithappens Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/shhithappensau/Anja’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anjachristoffersen/ Anja’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anja-christoffersen-999446152/  Trigger warning: Topics include medical trauma, childhood hospitalisation, incontinence and sexual health. If you or someone you know is in distress, call Lifeline 13 11 14 (Australia).

    30 min

  7. NOV 10

    Wheels in Motion: Eamon Wood's Journey from Paraplegia to Pro Athlete & Entrepreneur

    After a devastating car accident at age four, Eamon Wood's life was forever changed. But instead of letting paraplegia define him, he forged a path that redefines what resilience looks like. In this powerful episode, Eamon shares his journey from becoming New Zealand's first professional wheelchair basketball player in Europe to building a family, an engineering career, and a thriving assistive tech company, Nudge Assist. He talks candidly about identity, dating, fatherhood, mental health, and the realities of navigating systems not built for inclusion. With warmth, insight, and a dash of Kiwi humour, Eamon reminds us that adaptability isn't just about mobility, it's about mindset. You’ll laugh, reflect, and probably tear up as Eamon shares the pivotal moment he stopped wishing to walk and started choosing to live fully. This episode is a must-listen for anyone needing a nudge of inspiration or practical insight into living fully with disability. Trigger Warning: This episode contains references to trauma and addiction. If you or someone you know needs support, call Lifeline at 13 11 14. More from Eamonn: Order physical copy of "A Backpack, a Chair and a Beard"  via email waywardwheeler@gmail.com  "A Backpack, a Chair and a Beard" on Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-backpack-a-chair-and-a-beard-eamon-wood/1138409871 A Backpack, a Chair and a Beard Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/waywardwheeler Nudge Assist Website: https://nudgeassist.com.au/ Eamonn’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wayward_wheeler/Eamonn’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eamon-wood/

    37 min

  8. NOV 3

    When Caring Becomes a Calling: Cassie Day on Love, Loss & Leading Change

    Cassie Day never expected her life to unfold this way. At 23, she was thrown into the deep end when her newborn son was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. What followed was a rollercoaster of medical trauma, emotional resilience, and a relentless fight to give her son a chance at life. In this episode, Cassie shares the raw, unfiltered story behind founding The Carer's Place, winning South Australia’s Carer Achievement Award, and how her darkest moments became a catalyst for change. From fractured relationships to small wins that felt like miracles, Cassie speaks with radical honesty about the hidden realities of being a full-time carer. If you’ve ever felt unseen in your caregiving role or struggled to hold onto hope, this conversation will meet you where you are. Trigger warning: This episode contains discussion of medical trauma, mental health struggles, and domestic violence. Please take care while listening. Need support? Call Lifeline on 13 11 14. Tune in, share, and subscribe to help us amplify carer voices that too often go unheard. Connect with Cassie: https://www.cassieday.com/ https://www.instagram.com/thecarersplace/ https://www.facebook.com/cassiedayofficial https://www.linkedin.com/in/cassieleeday/

    55 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
    2K
  • Episodes
    56
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Navigating Disability
  • Show Website
    Navigating Disability