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Navigating Disability
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.
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Navigating Disability
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