rewrite this content and keep HTML tags Olympic gold-winning tennis player Dylan Alcott knows a thing or two about overcoming obstacles to pursue his dreams and goals in life.Despite those hurdles, the retired Paralympic star and 2021 Golden Slam winner has reached the highest heights of a professional sporting career.WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Dylan Alcott speaks about Giving Day.Stream the world’s best reality, entertainment and true crime shows for free on 7Bravo on 7plus >>And now, more than ever, Alcott wants to pay it forward.Through his Dylan Alcott Foundation, the 2022 Australian of the Year raises money – and awareness – for people living with disability.He’s especially keen on making sure that young people have access to the same opportunities he’s had to make his dreams a reality.Dylan Alcott’s girlfriend shares major family news Dylan Alcott’s girlfriend breaks her silence over split rumours That’s where Wednesday’s Giving Day comes in, and why Alcott is asking Australians to donate whatever they can to achieve that goal.“There’s nearly one million young people with a disability in this country, and they don’t get the same opportunity as everybody else – there’s often a lack of access and financial means to get involved in education, employment, sport, music, whatever it is,” Alcott tells 7Life.“(We want to) invest in young people to help them achieve their dreams – help pay for equipment, help them to become Paralympians, help them to do university and TAFE courses, to help start up their own business.“We want to double the amount of young people with a disability we support next year and we obviously can’t do that without the support of the Australian public, so that’s where the Giving Day comes in.”Alcott knows all about having to overcome obstacles to turn his love for sport into a career, admitting that as a young person he “hated” his disability.Dylan Alcott at the recent Melbourne Half-Marathon; and with his partner Chantelle Otten. Credit: Instagram/Dylan Alcott“I can’t tell you how much I hated my disability and I didn’t feel included in society,” he says.“I didn’t see anybody like me in the mainstream media and that was incredibly hard.“We want to break down some of those barriers – not just in representation, but directly, socially, economically.”The economic hurdles faced by people with a disability can be frustrating, Alcott says.“When my brother, who is able-bodied, wanted to start playing sport as a kid, he got a $100 pair of footy boots,” he says.“I needed a $7000 wheelchair just to even try.Dylan Alcott is an Olympic gold medal winner. Credit: BSR Agency/Getty Images“And guess what? If you don’t have it, well, you don’t do it, and that just sucks.“And that’s not just across sport, that’s across everything, from access to the performing arts to education and employment.“It’s not just about discrimination or unconscious bias, those economic barriers are real too.“So to be able to break those barriers down for people with a disability is the reason we’re here as a foundation, to be honest.”Alcott adds that people who have an invisible disability face a unique bias, with an attitude still prevailing among some people that “if you can’t see it, it isn’t there”.“There are four-and-a-half million people in Australia with some form of disability and 90 per cent of them are invisible, right?” he says.Dylan Alcott was the 2022 Australian of the Year. Credit: AAP“The majority of our grant recipients have invisible disabilities.“I think it’s really important to note that it’s not just about people in wheelchairs.“It’s up to all of us to do the work, shine a light on invisible disability, start conversations around it.“But talk is cheap, and actions speak louder than words.“People with a disability want access to employment, to education, access to a social life, music festivals, access to travel, access to dating.“You know what I mean? We deserve the same opportunities as everybody else.”Dylan Alcott and his partner Chantelle Otten. Credit: Instagram As one of Australia’s most high-profile people sports stars, it’s hard not to wonder if Alcott ever feels the pressure of being the “public face” of disability in Australia.Is there a sense of duty that accompanies the fact that he’s a household name in this country?“I don’t feel pressure to be honest, because everybody gives me credit but it’s not just me alone,” he says.“It’s everybody – it’s the Australian public, it’s the media, it’s the people who have backed me and supported me.“And most importantly, it’s the people with a disability who came before me that didn’t get the same recognition I got, you know?Dylan Alcott takes some time out in Bali. Credit: Instagram/Dylan Alcott“Because of them, I’m doing what I’m doing today.“The fact that we’re all now doing it together is absolutely incredible and I’m so grateful for it and we need more people with a disability getting their voice heard.“We just want everyone to know how bloody awesome people with a disability can be.“And when given the opportunity to be themselves, they can really contribute to society, just like everybody else.”To donate call 1800 961 455 or go to the Dylan Alcott Foundation website.For more engaging celebrity content, visit 7Life on Facebook.Hugh Jackman spotted with mystery blonde in new pics Eva Longoria’s ex and TV star dead at 50: ‘Beyond devastated’If you’d like to view this content, please adjust your Cookie Settings.To find out more about how we use cookies, please see our Cookie Guide.
As a kid, Dylan Alcott ‘hated’ his disability. Now he wants to help others achieve their dreams
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