Two remarkable Australians have been named as ambassadors for the 2025 International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD), each bringing a powerful personal mission to reshape how society views and includes people with disabilities.
An Engineer Redefining Accessibility and Perception
Santiago Velasquez Hurtado, a Brisbane-based electrical engineer who is visually impaired, is using his expertise to lead innovation in accessibility technology. However, his ambition extends far beyond creating tools. He is determined to dismantle the pervasive societal notion that people with disabilities need to be 'fixed' to fit in.
"Too often, people with disabilities are 'put in a box' and told they can't study, work, travel, or date," Santiago explains. He argues that these limiting perceptions are more damaging than any physical or cognitive condition, holding back societal progress.
As the CEO and founder of two companies, a United Nations panellist, Churchill Fellow, and TEDx speaker, Santiago is a leading voice in developing solutions for accessibility challenges in transport, navigation, business, education, and employment. His core principle is that co-design with people with disabilities must be non-negotiable in any infrastructure or technology project.
"We must make co-design with people with disabilities or accessible standards non-negotiable," he stated firmly. "We all benefit from accessibility." Santiago believes Australia has the potential to set a global standard by creating technology and infrastructure guided by the very people who use and need it.
Advocating for the Visibility of Hidden Disabilities
From Sydney, Ronan Soussa is using his public platform to bring hidden disabilities into the mainstream. The 26-year-old, who lives with autism and gained recognition on the second season of 'Love on the Spectrum', is a karate black belt, piano player, and now a front-of-house staff member at Moxy Hotel.
As a 2025 IDPwD ambassador in partnership with the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, Ronan's goal is to educate the Australian public. He wants to highlight the small, practical changes people can make to ensure those with hidden disabilities feel included and understood, rather than excluded.
Securing his first full-time job is a significant milestone for Ronan, who sees his role as an opportunity to showcase the valuable skills people with hidden disabilities bring to the workforce. His message is one of resilience and necessity: "Different isn't less, different is necessary. Never give up, because your voice matters."
Champions Driving National Change
Santiago and Ronan are two of six ambassadors selected for IDPwD 2025. Together, they will promote disability inclusion in the lead-up to the annual observance on December 3rd. Each ambassador contributes a unique lived experience to drive positive change and foster greater community awareness, understanding, and acceptance.
Senator Jenny McAllister, Minister for the NDIS, praised the cohort, stating, "Our 2025 ambassadors are champions of the rights and dignity of people with disability. They are people who all work to help create a society where everyone is valued and has the opportunity to thrive."
The ambassadors' shared mission underscores a critical shift in perspective: moving away from viewing disability as a problem to be solved, and instead recognising it as a dimension of human diversity where inclusion and accessibility benefit everyone. Their stories highlight that the path forward for Australia lies in leveraging diverse talents and ensuring equitable participation in all aspects of life.
