Listen and learn: the importance of parking our predjudice

Better listening and reflecting on Jon's part could have resulted in a very different interview. I think this situation demonstrates that we can all afford to take a step back, and reflect on our own assumptions and prejudice surrounding disability.

People with disability have stories to tell us, if we are willing to listen. At several points throughout the interview, Carly reiterated that she simply wants be treated like everyone else. No better, no worse, the same.

This is a reasonable request. There is not a different set of rules for communicating with people with disability. And yet, somehow it's still deemed fair game to ask people with disability questions that would never be asked to people without disability.

To Carly I would like to say, thank you. It wasn't the first time you were forced to justify your perspectives and experiences as a person with disability, and it won't be the last.

I hope Carly takes solace in the fact that her words make a difference. Her courage in the face of uninformed viewpoints is valued by so many.

Every day I work alongside people fighting for true inclusion of people with disability. While we continue to make positive steps, it's easy to feel downtrodden when we realise how far we have to go.

To gain real traction, we need as many people speaking up as possible. We need to call out injustice when we see it. And with people like Carly in the fight, we will make a difference.