Dr Huhana Hickey MNZM

is a Māori disability and human rights advocate, scholar and former lawyer of Ngāti Tahinga, Ngāti Ira and Tainui whakapapa. A disabled wahine and wheelchair user, she brings lived experience and expertise to her work advancing the rights of tāngata whaikaha and whānau hauā. Huhana holds a PhD in Law and tikanga Māori from the University of Waikato and has held numerous national leadership, governance and advisory roles across disability, health, justice and human rights. Her advocacy is grounded in Te Tiriti o Waitangi, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, intersectionality and the collective wellbeing of whānau and communities. She was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Māori and disabled people.

Dr. Huhana talks about singer Dame Hinewehi Mohi and her daughter Hineraukatauri. For some history and context, read the history of the [Raukatauri Music Therapy Centre](https://www.rmtc.org.nz/history).

Episode Chapters

[00:00] Introduction – Disability Disrupters Podcast

[00:21] Introduction to Podcast

[01:02] Advert – Ask Dr Pam

[02:11] Deep Dive Introduction

[03:04] Deep Dive – Summary of Submission to the Disability Support Services Bill

[22:25]  Disability Support Services (DSS) Bill – Oral Submission by Foundation for Equity Research New Zealand

[27:45] Intro to Podcast Guest

[28:44] Interview with Dr. Huhana Hickey

[01:19:10] Goodbye from Dr Pam

[01:19:23] Advert – Tipjar support for the podcast

Disability Self-empowerment: Module One: Take charge of your future!

Available on amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Disability-self-empowerment-Module-charge-future-ebook/dp/B0FJLKGLTV

Disability Responsiveness New Zealand offers personalised mentoring and workshops – view the content of these at https://drnz.co.nz/about-our-workshops-and-programmes/

Audio Shorts, background music provided by http://www.andrelouis.com

Podcast audio and transcript editor : Britta Offergeld

Support Disability Disrupters by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/disability-disrupters

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Tim Young – CEO at Smart Access Limited

Tim Young is the CEO of Smart Access, which has developed a data collection, categorisation, and navigation system for pedestrians with access needs to plan a safe journey. Tim started his business, which aims to improve infrastructure accessibility, after facing many obstacles and uncertainty when traveling around the country as a tetraplegic and wheelchair user.

Tim also uses his experience in his role as Chief Technology Officer of My Life My Voice to develop digital tools and conduct training on technology to improve outcomes and opportunities for disabled people.

Tim has completed a MSc in Psychology, developed an educational video game, a work placement program for disabled job seekers, and Co-founded the Magical Bridge Trust to build more accessible playgrounds.

Episode chapters

[00:00] Introduction – Disability Disrupters Podcast

[00:21] Introduction to Podcast guest – Tim Young

[00:33] Ad – Get interviewed for Disability Disrupters podcast

[24:29] Deep Dive – Unpaid labour critique

[41:10] Goodbye from Dr Pam

[41:23] Advert – Tipjar support for the podcast

Disability Self-empowerment: Module One: Take charge of your future!

Available on amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Disability-self-empowerment-Module-charge-future-ebook/dp/B0FJLKGLTV

Disability Responsiveness New Zealand offers personalised mentoring and workshops – view the content of these at https://drnz.co.nz/about-our-workshops-and-programmes/

Audio Shorts, background music provided by http://www.andrelouis.com

Podcast audio and transcript editor : Britta Offergeld

Support Disability Disrupters by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/disability-disrupters

Read transcript

Sadie Dingfelder – Author, science journalist, neurodiversity advocate

Sadie has prosopagnosia — face blindness — which means she can’t recognize anyone by their face. Not her mother, not her coworkers, not her husband (she once grabbed a jar of peanut butter out of a stranger’s cart because she thought he was her husband. He was two aisles over).

Sadie has written a memoir about her face blindness and other conditions, called Do I Know You ? , Temple Grandin wrote the foreword.

Because of her Face blindness, Sadie built her own assistive tech system: She photographs everyone she meets and writes notes about them. What they look like, what they were wearing, what we talked about. It’s basically a manual face database. It works, mostly, but it’s exhausting — and it freaks people out when they notice.

Here’s the irony: the technology Sadie actually needs is the one everyone else fears. Facial recognition. The thing governments are banning and privacy advocates are protesting is, for her, just… what normal people already have built into their brains. Sadie tried an early version of a face recognition app right when the pandemic hit — and of course **it didn’t work with masks**, which is exactly when a faceblind person needs it most, because masks wipe out the few cues they do use (hair, glasses, context).

Face blindness affects roughly 1 in 50 people, but there’s no accommodation framework, no widely available app, and most people don’t even know it exists. Sadie didn’t find out she had it until she was 40 — along with three other rare neurological conditions (stereoblindness, aphantasia, and severely deficient autobiographical memory), all missed for decades because she had just learned to work around them.

Sadie is a former reporter for the Washington Post and currently works for National Geographic in the USA.

You can find Sadie on Sadie’s website where you can follow her on social media, contact her and read her blog

If you prefer a hardcopy of her memoir and are located in New Zealand, you can purchase Do I Know You ? at PaperPlus

[00:00] Introduction – Disability Disrupters Podcast

[00:21] Introduction to Podcast guest – Sadie Dingfelder

[00:43] Ad – Get interviewed for Disability Disrupters podcast

[01:14] Interview with Sadie Dingfelder

[28:01] Deep Dive – Why does Society label People instead of recognising that it is systems that are impaired

[50:21] Goodbye from Dr Pam

[50:34] Advert – Tipjar support for the podcast

Disability Self-empowerment: Module One: Take charge of your future!

Available on amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Disability-self-empowerment-Module-charge-future-ebook/dp/B0FJLKGLTV

Disability Responsiveness New Zealand offers personalised mentoring and workshops – view the content of these at https://drnz.co.nz/about-our-workshops-and-programmes/

Audio Shorts, background music provided by http://www.andrelouis.com

Podcast audio and transcript editor : Britta Offergeld

Support Disability Disrupters by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/disability-disrupters

Read transcript

Dan Shepherd

Dan is Blind Low Vision NZ’s General Manager, Community & Inclusion, and leads a portfolio of work that is community facing and aims to change attitudes towards vision loss and people who are blind, deafblind or low vision. Diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa when he was 15, Dan subscribes to a ‘nothing at us, everything with us’ approach to finding solutions that work for disabled people.

Leading an authentic, 100% client led team to educate and influence accessible and inclusive communities, after his own journey of adjustment and acceptance Dan is proud be part of a bigger picture leading change for disabled people in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Article on Dan being appointed as General Manager, Community and Inclusion, Blind and Low Vision New Zealand.

[00:00] Introduction – Disability Disrupters Podcast

[00:21] Introduction to Podcast Episode

[00:40] Podcast seeking contributions from Listeners

[01:04] Introduction to Podcast Guest – Dan Shepherd

[01:22] Interview with Dan Shepherd

[23:52] Advert – Bill asking for Tip jar contributions

[24:42] Deep Dive – A challenge to inspiration porn

[29:09] Goodbye from Dr Pam

Support Disability Disrupters by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/disability-disrupters

Read transcript

Yenn Purkis

Yenn Purkis is an Autistic and ADHD, non-binary, asexual advocate and author. They also have a diagnosis of atypical schizophrenia and anxiety. Yenn has been a disability advocate since 2005 when their first book, the autobiography Finding a Different Kind of Normal, was accepted for publication.

Yenn has worked as Deputy CEO (External Relations) at the Disability Leadership Institute, served as Accessibility Manager for Rebus Theatre, and worked as a public servant for 17 years.

A prolific author, Yenn has written or co-authored 18 published books. They have been presenting since 2002 and have delivered talks worldwide, including presenting at TEDx Canberra twice. Yenn is a sought-after speaker with extensive lived and professional experience in disability advocacy and systemic inclusion.

Their website is: https://yennpurkis.com/

For a list of all their published books: https://yennpurkis.com/books/

Some of Yenn’s TEDx and conference presentations:

• Autigender: Disability, Gender, and What You Can Do as Allies | Yenn Purkis | TEDxCanberra
• Disability, Resilience and Achieving the Supposedly Impossible: Yenn Purkis at TEDxCanberra
• 2023 Au-Some Conference: Yenn Purkis – A journey through self-advocacy

Brimbravo, where you can book Yenn as a speaker https://brimbravo.com/speakers-profile-yenn-purkis/

[00:00] Introduction – Disability Disrupters Podcast

[00:21] Introduction to Podcast Guests

[00:41] Interview with Yenn Purkis

[27:38] DRNZ – Disability Responsiveness New Zealand

[32:42] Goodbye from Dr Pam

Disability Self-empowerment: Module One: Take charge of your future!
Available on amazon

Disability Responsiveness New Zealand offers personalised mentoring and workshops

Audio Shorts, background music provided by http://www.andrelouis.com

Podcast audio, transcript and captions editor : Britta Offergeld

Support Disability Disrupters by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/disability-disrupters

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In this special edition of the Disability Disrupters podcast, Kylee Maloney presents her award winning broadcast, interviewing Victoria Maxwell about Victoria’s one woman show called Crazy for Life. Kylee was February 2026’s podcast guest, so check her episode, Episode 20, after this one.

Victoria Maxwell

Victoria Maxwell, BFA, BPP*  is a sought-after international (and funny) keynote speaker, performing artist and workshop leader. She uses her personal story of recovery from mental illness to increase awareness, transform negative beliefs and ignite powerful conversations about mental health.

Blending 30 years as an actor, and 15 as a wellness warrior, Victoria inspires people to take immediate action to improve their well-being. 

The Mental Health Commission of Canada has endorsed her one-of-a-kind keynote performances as one of the top anti-stigma interventions that creates lasting shifts.

Two scientific studies have shown her theatrical keynotes reduce stigma. Learn about the research results here and here.

She was named one of Canada’s top leaders in Mental Health by the National Centre for Addiction and Mental Health centre (CAMH) and honoured with the National Difference Makers award.

Her plays, keynotes and other efforts have won or been nominated for over 14 awards. They include the Entertainment Industries Council PRISM Award, SAMHSA Voice Award, best foreign stage play at the Moondance International Film Festival, and one of Top Ten Entrepreneurs with Disabilities.

Prior to her diagnosis, Victoria was an actress during the 90’s, playing small roles opposite actors such as X-Files’ David Duchovny, John Travolta and Johnny Depp. She’s blogged for Psychology Today for over 8 years.

While her story is her own, the messages are universal. Even the most veteran of conference delegates are energized and enlightened by her keynotes and workshops.

Victoria’s website is here: https://victoriamaxwell.com/

[00:00] Introduction – Disability Disrupters Podcast

[00:21] Introduction to Podcast

[00:44] Kylee and Victoria

[29:13] Advert – Tipjar support for the podcast

[30:06] Goodbye from Dr Pam

Disability Self-empowerment: Module One: Take charge of your future!

Available on amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Disability-self-empowerment-Module-charge-future-ebook/dp/B0FJLKGLTV

Disability Responsiveness New Zealand offers personalised mentoring and workshops – view the content of these at https://drnz.co.nz/about-our-workshops-and-programmes/

Audio Shorts, background music provided by http://www.andrelouis.com

Podcast audio and transcript editor : Britta Offergeld

Support Disability Disrupters by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/disability-disrupters

Read transcript

Kylee Maloney

Kylee Maloney has been a creative for as long as she can remember: from trying to make music with two hands on the piano at three to writing fanfiction at nearly 60, she has always enjoyed using her voice, words and music as modes of self-expression — and sometime employment. As a survivor of abuse in the care of RNZFB, she works as Administrator for the small group of survivors tasked with constructing a compensation and redress framework for positive change. She also enjoys reading, weight lifting, a decent glass of wine and setting the world to rights with a small and select group of friends. As a newly-diagnosed autist, she now proudly wears the sunflower and hopes to continue to help others through promotion of self-knowledge as a tool for growth.

The song performed by Kylee after her interview is called, The Water is Wide, from her album, Early One Celtic Morning.

The album is available on Spotify and Apple Music

Connect with Kylee:

• Kylee has a professional clone of her voice on Eleven Labs. If you would her to read to you and you have Eleven Reader, add Kylee here:

https://elevenlabs.io/app/voice-lab/share/c2b0aec5bdab1dd57f61079e0ad3a1d694cc1657aaa1dfef1e0e31bccf2c3f78/pcKdPWtbF6bM9o7NHjCI

• The link to Kylee’s fanfic on AO3 is here:

https://archiveofourown.org/users/TheKiwiCelt/works

• Kylee is featured

in an interview here

about her IT course on radio New Zealand

• Email Kylee with Subject line: Disrupters at silvercords@icloud.com

Podcast Chapters

[00:00] Introduction – Disability Disrupters Podcast

[00:21] Introduction to Podcast Guest

[01:05] Interview with Kylee Maloney

[37:53] Goodbye from Dr Pam

[38:07] Advert – Tipjar support for the podcast

Dr Pam’s Disability Self-empowerment: Module One: Take charge of your future!

Available on amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Disability-self-empowerment-Module-charge-future-ebook/dp/B0FJLKGLTV

Disability Responsiveness New Zealand offers personalised mentoring and workshops – view the content of these at https://drnz.co.nz/about-our-workshops-and-programmes/

Audio Shorts, background music provided by http://www.andrelouis.com

Podcast audio and transcript editor : Britta Offergeld

Support Disability Disrupters by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/disability-disrupters

Read transcript

Andrew Gadd

Andrew is a passionate disability advocate, content creator and aspiring YouTuber. He has a passion for showcasing the positives of leading a fulfilling life with a physical condition.  

You can connect with Andrew here:

Linktree: 

https://linktr.ee/AGGUIDES

TikTok: 

https://www.tiktok.com/@andrew_gadd?_r=1&_t=ZN-92TAGl0r02Y

YouTube: 

https://youtube.com/@andrew_gadd?si=ymO5vaHGG8sCzn12

[00:00] Introduction – Disability Disrupters Podcast

[00:21] Introduction to Podcast Guest – Andrew Gadd

[01:04] Interview with Andrew Gadd

[21:49] Employment Matters

[25:20] Advert – Disability Self-empowerment: Module one: Take charge of your future!

[26:35] Goodbye from Dr Pam

[26:56] Advert – Tipjar support for the podcast

Disability Self-empowerment: Module One: Take charge of your future!

Available on amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Disability-self-empowerment-Module-charge-future-ebook/dp/B0FJLKGLTV

Disability Responsiveness New Zealand offers personalised mentoring and workshops – view the content of these at https://drnz.co.nz/about-our-workshops-and-programmes/

Audio Shorts, background music provided by http://www.andrelouis.com

Podcast audio and transcript editor : Britta Offergeldhttps://youtube.com/@andrew_gadd?si=ymO5vaHGG8sCzn12

Support Disability Disrupters by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/disability-disrupters

Read transcript

Mark Williams

Mark is a successful entrepreneur, and National Sales manager – NZ for HT Systems (Kera sit2sit & Kera Travel hoists). Their first product, the Kera sit2sit hoist, has already made a huge difference in the lives of people living with disability.

Mark has first hand experience as a User of the Kera Travel hoist and can help guide New Zealanders with NZ funding.

Information on NZ funding can be found on the HT systems website here, and this is where Mark’s contact details, such as email address and phone number are available.https://www.htsystems.co.nz

Mark previously ran a lighting business for over two decades, and this business is now based in Auckland, NZ. Check out Flexilight New Zealand

Mark has two short videos of his house/property lighting setup available to be viewed on youtube.

Outside Christmas Lights – Napier NZ

My house -Christmas 2024 Napier NEW ZEALAND

Mark is also involved with custom made wheelchair spoke protector designs at Bazaa Wheels

On a personal note, Mark is in the middle of writing a book about his work and life, so watch out for that announcement coming up.

Emma Bennison

This month Emma is reading us her blog article "Stop Mining our Ideas. Start Appointing Disabled Leaders"

Audio Chapters

[00:00] Introduction – Disability Disrupters Podcast

[00:21] Introduction to Podcast

[00:51] Interview with Mark WIlliams

[13:20] Advert – Tipjar support for the podcast

[14:17] Stop Mining Our Ideas. Start Appointing Disabled Leaders

[21:32] Advert – fast braille translation service

[22:34] Goodbye from Dr Pam

Footnotes

Disability Self-empowerment: Module One: Take charge of your future!

Available on amazon here

Disability Responsiveness New Zealand offers personalised mentoring and workshops

Audio Shorts, background music provided by http://www.andrelouis.com

Podcast audio and transcript editor : Britta Offergeld

Support Disability Disrupters by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/disability-disrupters

Read transcript

Stephanie Birkhead

Behind the Shutters is a deeply personal and moving memoir that lifts the lid on life behind closed doors.
Stephanie Birkhead shares her powerful journey of survival, resilience, and hope after enduring experiences that shaped her life in unexpected ways. With raw honesty and courage, she invites readers to step inside her story — not just of struggle, but of strength, healing, and finding light after the darkest of times.

Discover my memoir: Behind The Shutters
Amazon link:
https://mybook.to/eBlfvR6

Connect with Stephie on LinkedIn:
http://www.linkedin.com/in/stephie-birkhead-931762388

[00:00] Introduction – Disability Disrupters Podcast
[00:21] Introduction to Podcast Guest
[00:32] Advert – Disability Self-empowerment: Module one: Take charge of your future!
[01:51] Interview with Stephie Birkhead
[24:57] Advert – Fast braille translation service
[25:58] Goodbye from Dr Pam
[26:14] Advert – Tipjar support for the podcast

Disability Self-empowerment: Module One: Take charge of your future!
Available on amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Disability-self-empowerment-Module-charge-future-ebook/dp/B0FJLKGLTV

Disability Responsiveness New Zealand offers personalised mentoring and workshops – view the content of these at https://drnz.co.nz/about-our-workshops-and-programmes/

Audio Shorts, background music provided by http://www.andrelouis.com

Podcast audio and transcript editor : Britta Offergeld

Support Disability Disrupters by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/disability-disrupters

Read transcript