Disability Activist, Comedian, Writer: Stella Young Dies Aged 32

I am very sad to read this tonight, readers. RIP Stella. I heard of you often and agreed with many of your opinions.

Prominent disability activist, writer and comedian Stella Young has died aged 32.

A family statement said she passed away unexpectedly on Saturday evening.

“With great sadness we acknowledge the passing of Stella Young, our much-loved and irreplaceable daughter and sister,” the statement said.

“Stella passed away on Saturday evening, unexpectedly, but in no pain.

“A private funeral will take place soon, followed by a public event in Melbourne, with more details to come.

“Our loss is a deeply personal one. We request privacy during this difficult time.”

Leaders pay tribute to Stella Young

Tributes have poured in for Ms Young who was the former editor of the ABC’s disability news and opinion website, Ramp Up.

ABC managing director Mark Scott described her as “an unforgettable communicator and a passionate advocate”.

“As a writer and broadcaster Stella was sharp and incisive, challenging and provocative,” he said in a statement.

“She was very warm and generous, the first to laugh and to make us all laugh.

“Stella helped us understand disability issues by sharing with a raw honesty about her own life and forcing us to reconsider how we think about disability and create an environment where those with disability can best get on with their own lives.

“She took great delight in challenging conventional wisdom and lazy thinking.”

Federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten paid tribute to Ms Young, saying she was “a fierce advocate for people with disabilities”.

“She has battled discrimination because of her disability. But she was a much larger than life figure and she’s going to be sorely missed.”

Australians have also taken to social media to remember Ms Young.

Federal Assistant Minister for Social Services Mitch Fifield tweeted that Ms Young would “be sorely missed”.

“Extremely sad to hear of the passing of Stella Young. She was a ceaseless advocate for a better deal for people with disability,” Mr Fifield tweeted.

Paralympian Kurt Fearnley said the world would be “less interesting” without her.

“She fearlessly challenged every stereotype of disability,” Mr Fearnley tweeted.

Comedian Josh Thomas tweeted “Stella Young is so terrific. A hilarious, rare and super cool lady. Heart breaking news.”

Ms Young was born in Stawell, in country Victoria, with Osteogenesis imperfecta, a genetic disorder that causes bones to break easily.

Stella Young: A life of advocacy

Ms Young’s advocacy began at the age of 14 when she conducted an access audit on the shops on the local main street.

She was an ambassador for Our Watch and has been a member of various boards and committees in the disability sector.

Ms Young proudly described herself as a “crip” despite objections by others.

“People get all up in arms when I describe myself as a crip because what they hear is the word ‘cripple’ and they hear a word you’re not allowed to say anymore,” she told 720 ABC Perth in 2012.

“Crip is a word that I find empowering the same way that some members of the gay community, but not all members of the gay community, find the word ‘queer’ empowering.”

Ms Young was a member of the Victorian Disability Advisory Council, the Ministerial Advisory Council for the Department of Victorian Communities, the Youth Disability Advocacy Service and Women with Disabilities Victoria.

She was a two-time state finalist in Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s Raw Comedy competition and hosted eight seasons of Australia’s first disability culture program, No Limits, on Channel 31.

She had been a regular contributor to ABC’s The Drum since 2011, writing about issues for disabled people in the wider community and the disability services sector.

Ms Young also wrote for Mamamia and The Punch.

She campaigned hard against the idea that having a disability made her exceptional or brave.

“I want to live in a world where a 15-year-old girl sitting in her bedroom watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer isn’t referred to as achieving anything because she’s doing it sitting down,” she said in April this year.

“I want to live in a world where we don’t have such low expectations of disabled people that we are congratulated for getting out of bed and remembering our own names in the morning.

“I want to live in a world where we value genuine achievement for disabled people, and I want to live in a world where a kid in Year 11 in a Melbourne high school is not one bit surprised that his new teacher is a wheelchair user.”

“Disability doesn’t make you exceptional, but questioning what you think you know about it does.”

Ms Young studied to become a teacher, before beginning a career in journalism.