Stella Young

Stella Young (24 February 1982 – 6 December 2014) was an Australian comedian, journalist and disability advocate.

Early life

Young was born in 1982 at Stawell, Victoria. She was born with osteogenesis imperfecta, and used a wheelchair for most of her life.

She held a Bachelor of Journalism from Deakin University and a Diploma of Secondary Education from the University of Melbourne.

Career

Young served as the editor for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's online magazine, Ramp Up. Before joining the ABC, she had worked as an educator in public programs at Melbourne Museum, and hosted eight seasons of No Limits, a disability culture program on community television station Channel 31.

In March 2014, she made her comedy festival debut at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, with her show Tales from the Crip (directed by Nelly Thomas), which won her the award for best newcomer at the festival.

Young did a TEDxSydney talk in April 2014, entitled "I'm not your inspiration, thank you very much", in which she deconstructed society's habit of turning disabled people into what she called "inspiration porn."

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

Death

Young died unexpectedly in Melbourne, on 6 December 2014.