Mac Zamani reflects on how disability leadership comes in many forms, and his hopes and dreams for future leaders.
Dear future disability leaders,
I write this letter for you. We are walking in the footsteps of giants, is a phrase I think of when thinking about disability leadership. So many amazing leaders have come and gone for us to reach this point. As I write this letter, I self reflect on my own leadership journey and whether or not I have earned the title of a disability leader, (good old imposter syndrome).
I see disability leadership as leadership within disability sector as well as leaders in other sectors who have a disability. There’s no one right way to be a disability leader, just like disability, leadership doesn’t have one look. There are so many different ways to be a leader. You can be a leader through coordinating a team, supporting others and/or advocating for yourself. You don’t always have to be loud to be a leader, sometimes it is the small quiet things that seemingly go unnoticed that makes you a leader.
There is a massive lack of disability representation in leadership. In 2022, just 19% of people with disability aged 18 and over reported feeling represented in leadership roles as per the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
The issue isn’t that as disabled young people, we aren’t capable of being leaders, because the truth is we are just as capable.
The issue is that we aren’t given the same opportunities to develop and demonstrate our skills and knowledge.
Something that one of my mentors have said that has stuck with me was; when you enter a room and no one looks like you see it as a chance to open the door for more people like you to enter. And thats how I see us, we can be the representation we seek to see.
People don’t see us as leaders and in turn we might not be able to see ourselves as leaders. But I see you. We all struggle with imposter syndrome to some degree, it’s part of the human experience. You might label yourself as an aspiring disability leader but odds are you already are a leader in some shape of form of way.
I want for you to not feel restricted in your leadership goals, follow whatever your passionate about. I want for you to feel confident in your abilities as a leader, you’ve got this. I want for you to feel okay to ask for guidance and help, we don’t have to do this alone, change happens when we work together.
I want to end on a quote from an incredible disability advocate and leader. Which is “I want to see feisty disabled people change the world” – Judy Heumann. Where the next generation of leaders for our communities which is an honour and privilege to have but I also want to hold space for the hardship that can come from being a disability leader. It isn’t an easy role to hold but just like Judy said we have the capacity to change the world.
Mac Zamani
About the author:
Mac (he/him) is a disability and queer youth advocate from a migrant background. He is a writer and public speaker currently studying youth work. Mac loves all things outdoors, reading and wheelchair sports when not studying or working.
