Identity: Olivia Hargroder

“I am more than the sum of my chromosomes. If you just look at my eyes you will not know who I am. If you look into my eyes you may. Told I would never speak, I love to use the gift I was to be denied, advocating for others whose voice is quiet. WOW has shown that they see all people, by giving me a platform and valuing my contribution to the world. My campaign to have Down syndrome included in the Paralympics is gaining ground, with trial categories being introduced in some international sports competitions. I am now determined to promote greater diversity in casting for stage and screen. We all deserve to be seen and heard.”

Born with Down syndrome, Olivia has never allowed intellectual impairment and years of gruelling surgery stand in her way. Told she would never speak, she uses the gift she was to be denied, advocating for change and equality. A disarmingly eloquent speaker, she addressed the UN in her quest to have Down syndrome recognised for both its physical and intellectual implications. In January 2019, Olivia was made a Queensland Australia Day Ambassador to spread the word of this day to Queensland communities. In 2018 she was a finalist for the Young Australian of the Year for QLD and awarded the Moreton Bay Young Citizen of the Year. She went to New York in 2017 and spoke about it at the World Down Syndrome Day UN Congress too.