Patrick Goldsmith, Yorke Peninsula Country Times

Point Turton’s Hugo Taheny has been named as one of 11 ambassadors from across the country for International Day of People with Disability, on Sunday, December 3.

An elite athlete with a haul of accolades to his name, including two gold medals at the Virtus Global Games in Vichy, France, earlier this year, Mr Taheny was invited to take on the role by the federal government, alongside lawyers, writers, artists and academics.

IDPwD is a United Nations initiative recognised internationally, aiming to promote community awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with disability.

The federal government, through the Department of Social Services, funds a national program to help promote and raise awareness of this day, with Mr Taheny’s role also being to help promote understanding and acceptance of people with disability in the community.

He said he is proud and honoured to be an ambassador.

“It is important to me because it gives me the opportunity to share with Australia and the world people living with disability just want to be treated the same as everyone else in the community,” Mr Taheny said.

“We want to live a full and productive life where we have choices and opportunities like others in our communities.

“Most importantly, I want to share with everyone how important it is to live life with a person-first approach, I am a person, not a Down syndrome person; I want people to know the language we use is really important.”

Mr Taheny was named a 2024 Young South Australian of the Year nominee in October, and was awarded the Sport SA Para Athlete of the Year for the second year in a row, earlier this month.

As part of the ambassador role, Mr Taheny flew to Sydney for a photoshoot and ambassador filming, which he said made him feel as though he was a real rockstar, a word longused by family, friends and his wider community to describe him.

“I had my hair and makeup done by professionals and we spent the morning filming and having a photoshoot while I talked about why it was so important for me to be an ambassador and about what is important to me in my life in general,” he said.

“This footage is already available online (at idpwd.com.au/hugo-taheny/.).

“As an ambassador, I will also have the opportunity to represent IDPwD at several functions to raise awareness and to spread the word about the importance of inclusion and diversity in our community.”

Mr Taheny said a better future for Australians with disabilities looks like one where they feel valued and included.

“Everyone deserves to be included and accepted, and December 3 is a great time to reflect on what can be done to become a more inclusive and diverse community,” he said.

This article appeared in Yorke Peninsula Country Times, 21 November 2023.

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