3 minute read
ELIZA HULL
from Entertainment Issue
Q. Tell everyone who you are and what you do.
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A. My name is Eliza Hull. I live in Castlemaine, Australia. I am a proud disabled person. I have a physical disability ‘Charcot Marie Tooth.’ I am a mother, partner and lover of cooking, reading and being creative. I am a disability advocate and have edited the book ‘We’ve Got This – stories by disabled parents’ which features 25 parents who identify as Deaf, disabled or chronically ill. The book is Australian but there is also an international version being made with parents who live in America and the UK. It will be coming out in 2023. I also have written a children’s book ‘Come Over to My House’ It’s co-written with Sally Rippin. I am a musical artist and release music and have toured overseas and around Australia. My music has been used within American shows ‘Awkward’ ‘Saving Hope’ and ‘Teen Wolf.’ I am very passionate about accessibility in the music industry for disabled artists and audience members.
Q. Who or what motivated you to be the woman you are today?
A. I am motivated by changing the way the world views disability. I am passionate about creating a world where equity exists. I want to see more representation of disabled people in the music industry, for too long the music industry has underrepresented the incredible music that is out there from disabled artists. My hope is that the world begins to change so that disabled people feel included.
Q. Let’s talk about your book and the motivation behind it.
A. When I was pregnant five years ago, I felt unrepresented. In all the stacks of parenting books I was given, there were no mums like me. In fact, there were no disabled parents at all. I wanted to feel represented and know what it was going to be like to be a disabled parent. ‘We’ve Got This’ is a book which aims at changing this, by sharing the stories of disabled parents in a way that could accurately represent their lives and didn’t over sensationalise their stories. I wanted to change some of the misconceptions that people have about parenting with a disability. There are still a lot of barriers, and most come within the wider society. I believe there is still a societal view that parents with disabilities can’t look after children. This is especially the case for parents with intellectual disabilities. I wanted to show that parents with disabilities are successfully parenting, in fact we’re actually thriving.
Q. What is it about your music that makes you feel passionate?
A. Where do I start? It’s given me a vehicle to express hard feelings and emotions. It’s given me a way to share what I am thinking and feeling and given me a platform to advocate for disabled people. I have met incredible people and formed a community I am proud of being part of. It’s given me confidence in speaking my mind. It’s also just given me a sense of purpose and a whole heap of joy!
Q. How do you define your purpose?
A. My purpose is to share my own story so that others feel like they can share theirs. I also feel my purpose is to speak of my own experiences so that we can begin to eliminate the many barriers that disabled people face.
Q. What accomplishment do you see yourself achieving in the next five years?
A. I want to write another children’s book. I want to tour the UK and play shows with Ruth Lyon. She’s an incredible disabled artist who I am inspired by, her music is so incredible and she is a strong disability advocate.
Q. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
A. To be yourself.
Q. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be?
A. Ireland. My mother’s family is from there and I feel a very strong pull coming from there. I need to revisit my ancestors.
Q. Are there any events or upcoming projects you are working on?
A. I have a new children’s book coming out called ‘Come Over To My House’ co- written with Sally Rippin. I also am about to release brand new music which I am so excited about sharing.
Q. Where can the readers follow you?
A. www.instagram.com/elizahull www.elizahull.com www.facebook.com/ elizahullmusic www.twitter.com/musicelizahull
