Mark Williams

Mark is a successful entrepreneur, and National Sales manager - NZ for HT Systems (Kera sit2sit & Kera Travel hoists). Their first product, the Kera sit2sit hoist, has already made a huge difference in the lives of people living with disability.

Mark has first hand experience as a User of the Kera Travel hoist and can help guide New Zealanders with NZ funding.

Information on NZ funding can be found on the HT systems website here, and this is where Mark's contact details, such as email address and phone number...

Stephanie Birkhead

Behind the Shutters is a deeply personal and moving memoir that lifts the lid on life behind closed doors. Stephanie Birkhead shares her powerful journey of survival, resilience, and hope after enduring experiences that shaped her life in unexpected ways. With raw honesty and courage, she invites readers to step inside her story — not just of struggle, but of strength, healing, and finding light after the darkest of times.

Discover her memoir: Behind The Shutters Amazon link: https://mybook.to/jMM8

Connect with Stephie on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/stephie-birkhead-931762388

Gemma O'Donnell

Gemma O’Donnell is an experienced Barrister and Solicitor. She is passionate about advocating for those with disabilities and older people. Gemma loves dark chocolate, books, and making food to share.

About Gemma’s business - Chronically Legal Chronically Legal makes it easy to get your legal ducks in a row.

Chronically Legal can help with: • Enduring Powers of Attorney, • Orders under the Protection of Personal and Property Rights Act (PPPR Act), • Residential Care Subsidies and • Trusts/ Incorporated Societies.

We offer fixed fees (for everything but litigation) and bespoke instalment p...

DARUMA (the Movie)

On 1st September, DARUMA finally comes to Australia and New Zealand! From Oscar-winning executive producer Peter Farrelly comes the first film in US cinematic history to star two leads with disabilities in a narrative not about overcoming disability.

DARUMA is a story about fatherhood, found family and forgiveness. Rent the film on Amazon Prime or Apple TV+

Starring: Christopher Reeve Best Actor Winner, Tobias Forrest Slamdance Best Actor Winner, John W. Lawson CBS Blue Bloods' Abigail Hawk And Golden Globe winner Barry Bostwick (The Rocky Horror Picture Show)

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Neelu Jennings

Neelu Jennings is a politician, disability advocate, and adventure athlete from Lower Hutt, New Zealand. A member of the Green Party, she has stood for both local and national office while raising two children as a full-time parent. Neelu brings deep expertise to her advocacy, holding a master’s degree in disability policy and a postgraduate diploma in public health, alongside professional experience with the Office for Disability Issues.

As the founder of Integrated Sport NZ and a decorated para-athlete, she has broken barriers in sport—becoming the first blind person to complete the...

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Nick Ruane

Nick Ruane has a long history of community involvement, advocacy, leadership, and disability activism. Nick has a Master of the Arts (with Honors) in Political Science and Government from Victoria University. He is a board member for New Zealand Riding for the Disabled and was co-chair of the Wellington Accessibility Advisory Group for 5 years, giving advice to Council on Accessibility. He is currently the Workbridge Group Foundation Advisor, advising on establishing a Philanthropic giving program, establishing a small grant program, and re-launching the Foundation website. He also posts about disability politics...

This special Historical Disability Disrupter episode of the Podcast features a presentation by Dr. Peter Wheeler on the remarkable life and times of Ben Purse, a pivotal figure in disability history. Purse famously articulated that while physical impairment "matters," the greater problem was "the social sins of the community" — attitudes, barriers, and obstacles that prevented blind people from achieving social and economic fairness alongside sighted workers. This perspective predates modern social models of disability. Ben Purse orchestrated a historic march to London in 1920, where 250 blind men and their supporters marched from three different starting points to Trafalgar Square, greeted by...

Emma Bennison

Emma Bennison is a bold disability advocate, consultant, Non-Executive Director and systems leader committed to equity, lived experience leadership and community transformation.

As Principal of Emma Bennison and Associates and Chief Advisor, Equity and Lived Experience at Life Without Barriers, (one of Australia’s largest human services organisations), she drives inclusive change across government, corporate and not-for-profit sectors.

A former President and CEO of Blind Citizens Australia and co-founder of United Blind Leaders, Emma is passionate about elevating blind leadership and challenging systemic barriers.

She’s also a TEDx spea...

Nikita 'Nikki' Van Dijk

Nikki has been involved in disability advocacy since intermediate, when she was advocating for autistic students in school due to the experiences of their brother within Aotearoa's education system. This continued as she transitioned into secondary school as a foundation student of Hobsonville Point Secondary School. Nikki sat on one of the school's first student councils, and then sat on one of the first 'Wellbeing Habitats' (specialised councils), advocating for the needs of disabled and chronically ill students.

Following a diagnosis of Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and Complex Regional Pain Syndrome in 2020...

Grant Cleland ONZM

Grant has worked in the health. disability and education sectors for over 30 years at governance, senior leadership and practitioner levels. With lived experience of disability from birth, Grant uses a wheelchair for mobility and has faced many barriers that disabled people face in health, education and employment. He therefore brings both lived and professional experience to his work.

For 9.5 years Grant was the Chief Executive of Workbridge. He was also a member of the Ministerial Group that developed the Enabling Good Lives principles.

His governance appointments have included: The NZ...

Cyndi Brec is a YA (Young Adult) fantasy author, speaker, and co-host of the P English Literature podcast, who turned a lifelong challenge — dyslexia – into the heart of her writing journey. Growing up, words seemed like walls she would never climb, but she refused to let dyslexia define her. Cyndi shows us the power of perseverance and how she has channeled her struggle into writing epic, history-inspired fantasy stories and how twisting legends have made her a legend sleuth.

Cyndi has completed three prequels and three novels in The Therans Series, with two different worlds within the same...

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Graeme Innes

Graeme Innes AM is a lawyer, author, and company director. He is the Chancellor of Central Queensland University, a member of the board of the National Disability Insurance Agency, and a member of the board of the State Insurance Regulatory Authority of NSW.

Graeme's autobiography Finding a Way achieved popular acclaim in 2016.

He has been a human rights practitioner for more than forty years, and is a conference presenter and facilitator. Graeme was a Commissioner at the Australian Human Rights Commission for nine years, responsible for issues...

Paula Jessop is an autistic woman and autistic rights advocate. She lives in Tauranga with her cat. Paula has been involved with autism self-advocacy for many years in New Zealand. She was an integral part of guiding Altogether Autism to become a more inclusive organisation as their first Autistic advisor. She has played a role in shifting the language in the autism sector, along with promoting the importance of knowledge gained from lived experience. In systemic advocacy Paula tends to be the ‘disrupter’ who shakes up the status quo and at times she has acted as a ‘weaver’, connecting and supp...

Dr Peter Wheeler worked in the UK nuclear engineering field until loosing his sight at the age of 38. After going blind he went to university and gained a first class honours degree in business and management. He then went on to undertake a Ph.D. at Warwick university. Peter then undertook research projects at both Warwick and Salford universities before finally taking a full time role as senior lecturer at Edge Hill university.

“When first approached to be interviewed for the disability disrupters podcast, my initial instinct was to decline the offer. The reason is that I do...

Liel Bridgford - I am a Psychologist, writer, educator, and podcaster based in Naarm and who uses she/they pronouns. I am a proud disabled, immigrant, gender fluid femme, and my work is centered on inclusive, accessible and holistic support and education. I have been recognised as an ABC TOP 5 Arts resident, served as the 2022 Editor of Writing Place Magazine, and was a 2023 Melbourne Access and Inclusion Award finalist. I have facilitated presentations and workshops across Australia and internationally, and was published and featured widely. In the past year, I founded Kultivate to advance wellbeing, equity, inclusion, and disability...

Barry De Geest is a dedicated advocate and activist within the New Zealand disability community. He has worked throughout his life to further the aims of disabled citizens to achieve self-determination, choice and control. Barry is an active supporter of the Enabling Good Lives Approach. Barry’s commitment to the sector is evident through his numerous initiatives, particularly through his establishment of the Renaissance Group, which aims to promote accessibility and inclusivity. His insights and dedication have not only raised awareness of the barriers faced by disabled New Zealanders in areas such as housing and employment, but has also as...

Amos Miller, the Founder and CEO of Glidance, is a trailblazer in the field of assistive technology. After losing his sight in his 20s due to a genetic eye condition, Amos embarked on a mission to revolutionize mobility for the blind and vision impaired. With over 25 years of experience, most notably at Microsoft Research, Amos has been at the forefront of developing ground-breaking assistive products using augmented reality and robotics. He is the founder of Microsoft Soundscape, an innovative audio augmented reality navigation app that has empowered countless individuals with sight loss. Amos’s dedication to accessibility and innovation dr...

Valerie Smith is a distinguished New Zealand disability activist.

As a senior figure in the disability community, she has been a pivotal force in numerous landmark achievements which have shaped the landscape of awareness, responsiveness, and support to disabled people.

Her dedication to championing our rights has earned her a respected place in New Zealand's history of social justice and equality.

Throughout her career, Valerie has actively participated in the development and implementation of policies aimed at improving the quality of life for disabled people. She has been instrumental in advocating for accessibility...