A Dog Called Diversity - Disability representation in Fashion.....with Michelle Roger

Disability representation in Fashion.....with Michelle Roger

07/20/23 • 44 min

Get ready to be inspired as we sit down with the immensely talented Michelle Rogers. This creative powerhouse, hailing from Gippsland, Victoria, has not let her chronic illness and disability stifle her passion for fashion.
As a successful model and photographer, Michelle is shattering stereotypes, advocating for diversity, and pushing for the inclusion of more body sizes, ages, and disabilities in the fashion industry.
Check out her instagram page.
Join us as we:

Delve into Michelle's daily battles with complex chronic illness.
Learn about the monumental effort it takes her to perform tasks many of us take for granted, and
How she manages the unpredictability of her condition.

Michelle's tenacity is evident as she discusses the logistics of preparing for major events, like fashion shows, all while dealing with everyday life challenges.

We wrap up our conversation with a thorough discussion on the significance of understanding both visible and invisible disabilities.
Learn from Michelle's personal experience of the emotional toll of having to prove a disability and the importance of shifting policies from requiring proof to understanding individual needs.
This episode serves as a testament to Michelle's resilience and a call to action for increased inclusivity and representation. Tune in as her story unfolds.

The Culture Ministry exists to create inclusive, accessible environments so that people and businesses can thrive.
Combining a big picture, balanced approach with real-world experience, we help organisations understand their diversity and inclusion shortcomings – and identify practical, measurable actions to move them forward.
Go to https://www.thecultureministry.com/ to learn more
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Delve into Michelle's daily battles with complex chronic illness.
Learn about the monumental effort it takes her to perform tasks many of us take for granted, and
How she manages the unpredictability of her condition.

Michelle's tenacity is evident as she discusses the logistics of preparing for major events, like fashion shows, all while dealing with everyday life challenges.

Previous Episode

The power of disability inclusion….. with Charlotte Faul

Charlotte Faul comes to disability inclusion work from her own experiences with chronic pain.

In this episode Charlotte and Lisa discuss the challenges of creating an inclusive workplace for people with disabilities, particularly those with invisible disabilities like Charlotte's.

Listen in to learn about ways to improve disability inclusion in the workplace including:

· The importance of flexible working arrangements and inclusive leadership

· Prioritising individual needs rather than creating a catalogue of accommodations.

· Starting with education and normalizing conversations about disability

· Collecting self-Identification data, and

· Focusing on inclusive leadership coaching.
Get in touch with Charlotte at Purple Consulting Group.
The woman we spoke about during this episode is Stella Young.

Next Episode

Bioptic driving with Belinda O'Connor

Belinda O’Connor has achromatopsia, an eyesight condition which affects her ability to see colours and have clear vision. Growing up she faced challenges accessing education and the workplace as a person with a disability, and she never thought she would be able to drive.
When Belinda discovered bioptic driving, a method for people with low vision to drive, a whole new world opened up for her. Through research and consultations with experts in Australia, she went through a series of assessments, driving lessons, and tests to obtain her license, and has been driving now for seven years.
Belinda and Lisa discussed Belinda's experience with using a bioptic device for driving and the importance of exploring options for people with different types of vision impairments to be able to drive safely.
Belinda is now known for her advocacy work for the formalization of bioptic driving in Australia, including the supply and demand side of the ecosystem, the role of various professionals, and the 2016 review of the Assessing Fitness to Drive Guidelines.
As we go to air, Belinda is on an overseas trip to investigate success factors and barriers for low vision and bioptic driving in Canada, USA, and the Netherlands, and to understand the unique circumstances of each jurisdiction.
As part of her Churchill Fellowship she will bring this knowledge back to Australia to improve and normalise low vision and biotic driving.
Want to know more? Join the Bioptic Drivers Australia Facebook group
Check out this blog on bioptic driving

A Dog Called Diversity - Disability representation in Fashion.....with Michelle Roger

Transcript

Speaker 100:00:08.813

Welcome to A Dog Called Diversity , a podcast from the Culture Ministry where we explore the themes of diversity , equity and inclusion through sharing stories of personal and powerful lived experiences , including how people have found their feet and developed their career in diversity and inclusion . We're so glad you are listening in and if you need some help or support with your d