Dylan Alcott – is the most important Australian of the Year

Dylan Alcott is best known for his recent Australian of the Year honour as well as 15 Wheelchair tennis Grand slams, but too along with those four Paralympic gold medals (3 tennis & 1 Basketball), he is much more than a sportsman.

Dylan was born with a Tumor that was wrapped around his spine and with it being cut out, it left Dylan paraplegic, and in a wheelchair.

Like 18% of the Australian population, have found having a disability can be difficult as many don’t know life without a disability, while we are seeing sport for people with a disability start to become more prominent, with events like the Wheelchair Tennis and Paralympics being shown to the Australian public on free to air TV.

But this isn’t what it’s about, it’s about how one person with a disability has been able to show so many other people what people with a disability are they are a person

Dylan is the face of ANZ, and also the face of the Australian Open, the first grand slam of the year

Winning a Golden Slam in 2021, but to be able to assist in getting people with disability to finds ways into sport and study, festivals that are accessible for people with a disability in Abilityfest and being the voice that people with a disability need.

So Dylan Alcott is more than just a sportsman, he is an advocate for people with disabilities, many people lives have been changed because of Dylan Alcott.

No, I’m not personally disabled but I know many people who are, and the smile you get to see when they can play a sport like their idols is amazing.

We all have idols so why shouldn’t people with a disability,

This is why Dylan Alcott is one of the best Australians of the year I have seen recently people with a disability deserve more recognition, lots do heaps in our communities

Hopefully, Dylan getting this recognition will get people without a disability to treat the ones that do with a bit more respect.

"Whenever I turned on the TV, or the radio or the newspaper, I never saw anybody like me.”

"And whenever I did, it was a road safety ad where someone drink drives, has a car accident and what's the next scene? Someone like me was in tears because their life was over.” But now we are seeing athletes and influencers who have a disability like Dylan Alcott, Kurt Fernley and Stella Young.

To finish off with what Dylan said at the Australian of the Year awards.

“My advice is to you, non-disabled people. It's time for you to challenge your unconscious biases, leave your negative perceptions at the door and lift your expectation of what you think people with disability can do. Because it's always more than you think.”