Doing Things Differently

by Rhyland B

“The biggest thing is that for every one thing you can’t do, there are 10,000 others you can.”

Good afternoon chairperson, fellow contestants and special guests, my name is Rhylan Walters, and I am from Scottsdale High School.

• Multiple Grand Slam titles in wheelchair tennis, including the Australian Open, Wimbledon, the U.S Open, and the French Open.
• Gold Medalist at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics.

• A prominent advocate for people with disabilities, promoting inclusivity and accesibilty in sports and society.
• Received nurmerous awards for his contributions to sports and advocacy, including being named 2022 Australian of the year in 2022!

I could speak for 8 minutes alone on the achievements of this australian icon, hero and changemaker. Ladies and Gentlemen, Dylan Alcott.

I opened today with one of his most influential quotes. Why is it important? Because doing things differently is how Dylan changed societies perspectives, it is not abour what you cant do it is about finding different ways to do it.

Dylan was born on December 4, 1990. Within the first few weeks of entering this big scary world, Dylan had surgery to remove an aggressive tumour wrapped around his spinal cord. However, the procedure left him unable to walk and wheelchair-bound for life. Although some may see this as unfortunate, as I’m sure he and his family did at the time, it would later lead to him changing the nation.

The years following weren’t easy for Dylan and his family, having to adapt everything to this new situation and ensuring everything was suitable and supportive for Dylan to grow up safely and in environment that allowed him to live a life that was as close to ‘normal’ as possible.

Starting school is an overwhelming time for anyone, I’m sure you all could recall the strong emotions of starting school and how daunting those days were. During this time, Dylan started realising more and more how unique he was to most people. He always knew he was different, but school made this even more obvious.

As schooling progressed, bullying became more frequent, it drained him and held him back from accepting his difference. This led Dylan down a dark path of depression throughout much of his youth.

Alcott writes in his autobiography Able: “On the whole, I knew my life had value. And yet I couldn’t quite be comfortable with who I was.” Facing a challenging childhood, Dylan eventually overcame the mental health challenges he faced with support from friends, family, and his wider network of people.

These childhood experiences eventually went on to shape who he is as a person. It drove him to become one of the most inspirational people of his time but most of all it motivated him to create a world that was inclusive and able, a society where difference was perceived as appositive not a negative.  

Over the past 34 years of his life, the 2022 Australian of the year morphed Australia to becoming more open-minded, more supportive, and more aware of negative stigmas surrounding people with disabilities. One of his biggest impacts has been through his 2017 establishment of the ‘Dylon Alcott Foundation’.

Through this foundation, Dylan showed the Australian community, that even though you can’t do things a certain way, it doesn’t mean you should miss out or not experience the true beauty of life.

He taught the world to not only see things differently but do things differently. This man created an ‘able’ community, he gave people a voice and he showed Australia how we as a nation can support difference and use it to make the world a better place.

The Dylan Alcott Foundation is an organisation with the primary purpose of assisting young Australians to gain confidence, fulfil their potential, and achieve their dreams.

The foundation aims to enrich the youth of Australia living with a disability and help them become involved with sports and study through mentoring, grants and scholarships. This foundation helps assist people with disabilities to do things differently but still be able to experience what we consider as the ‘norm.’

Dylan's journey is a reminder that our paths may diverge from the expected, but it is within those deviations that we often find our true potential. The challenges he faced did not define him; instead, they provided him with the motivation to become a beacon of hope and a source of inspiration for countless individuals.

His story resonates deeply with many who may feel marginalised or overlooked, showing them that they too can rise above their circumstances and make a significant impact.

The ripple effects of his work extend well beyond the sports arena. By endorsing the rights, and inclusion of individuals with disabilities, Dylan has sparked conversations about accessibility and equity across various sectors of society.

His advocacy brings awareness to the importance of creating environments where everyone, regardless of their abilities, has the chance to shine. This dedication to advocacy is crucial, as it fosters a culture that not only accepts differences but celebrates them.

Importantly, Dylan's legacy is built on something more profound than mere accolades; it is grounded in community and connection. Through the Dylan Alcott Foundation, he fosters a collaborative spirit that empowers young Australians to support one another.

By providing mentorship and opportunities, he cultivates an environment where young people can share their experiences, learn from each other, and grow together.

Not only does Dylan inspire the disabled community of Australia, but he inspires me too. His story has shown me that setbacks are temporary, and with perseverance, there’s always a way. It may not be the ‘normal’ way, it may be different, but we embrace the change and try it out because it could only be great!

In a world that constantly evolves, it's essential to embrace change and innovation. By challenging the status quo and thinking outside the box, we discover new ways to solve problems and create opportunities. This mindset not only drives progress but also fosters resilience and adaptability in the face of uncertainty.

Like Dylan, we adapt, we learn, we grow, and we compromise. We go into every situation with an open mind. That’s how we do things differently!