Dylan is the first person with a disability to win the national award. He was recognised for his profound impact off the court through his work with the Dylan Alcott Foundation and music festival, AbilityFest. Alcott’s eponymous Foundation seeks to remove the barriers for people with a disability. They can gain self-esteem and respect as they get involved in sport, studying and mentoring, while using funding and grants provided by the Foundation.
While accepting the award at the ceremony in Canberra, Dylan explained how he had been born with a tumour wrapped around his spinal cord, which was removed just a few days after birth. He admitted that when growing up he had hated having to live with a disability. He hated being different. He really didn’t want to be here any more.
He was a kid who was bullied about his disability when he was 13 and didn’t think he had much of a life to live. But, tennis saved his life! Dylan was fortunate to have “one of the best families and some of the best friends” when he was younger. He will be forever grateful for the opportunities he has had, to keep doing the things he loves.
He thanked Kurt Fearnley, Louise Sauvage and Danni Di Toro for being Paralympian heroes who had shown him what was possible. His partner, Chantelle Otten supported and encouraged Dylan by telling him he was worthy and lovable.
In 2021 he became the first male tennis player in history to win the Golden Slam – all four grand slam titles plus an Olympic or Paralympic gold medal in the same year – an incredible feat! Dylan announced in November that he would retire after defending his title at the Australian Open this year, but his dream of winning an eighth consecutive Australian Open Singles title was not to be.
Dylan is a fierce advocate for people with a disability. He has used his growing public profile to help shift the conversation around people living with a disability. A motivational speaker, radio host and TV personality, he has grown to love his disability and works hard to help the 4.5 million Australians with a physical or non-physical disability to love their disability, too.
He has great plans to continue his work as an advocate during his 12-month term. Dylan is an inspirational Australian on and off the tennis court. Through the Dylan Alcott Foundation, he is giving young Australians facing disadvantage the promise of a better future.
Dylan told the crowd that winning grand slams and gold medals was not his purpose. Rather, it is changing perceptions and expectations, so that people with disability can live the lives they deserve. One of his priorities for 2022 is to improve funding for the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Because the unemployment rate is double that of able-bodied people, he also plans to help people with disabilities to get into the workforce and off the pension. He would like to see greater representation of people with a disability everywhere, using their voice; in schools and universities; on our sporting fields; in parliament and local government; and in boardrooms.
Dylan is also involved as co-founder and advocate for Able Foods, a profit-for-purpose business with a goal to provide quality food and opportunities for people with disabilities. Coles and Able Foods work closely with the National Disability Insurance Scheme to develop and deliver great-tasting and nutritious ready-made meals to NDIS participants.
They have focused on accessible packaging, with baked beans being the first product to arrive in handy microwavable pouches that are lightweight and easy to open. Opening cans and jars can be difficult for many people, so the team is looking forward to increasing the range of products accessible for everyone. Keep watching!
Thirty-one-year-old Dylan also runs AbilityFest which is Australia’s only fully accessible music festival, featuring pathways for wheelchairs, quiet areas for people with sensory disabilities and Auslan interpreters. In Melbourne last November, the festival raised $400,000 for the Dylan Alcott Foundation.
Dylan had given himself little chance of taking home the honour of Australian of the Year. He admitted his surprise at his nomination and then, his wish to win as a ‘person with a disability’.
He finished his acceptance speech with a message for all 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 a disability can do – because there’s always more than you think!”
Congratulations, Dylan Alcott. OAM.
Mary Pianta.
Disability Contact Coordinator, Diocese of Sandhurst.
(image of Dylan from the Dylan Alcott Foundation).
