Ellie Cole & Michelle Bachelet: #WeThe15 Special Episode

Australian Paralympic sensation Ellie Cole speaks with United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, on WeThe15’s global importance in the second episode of this A Winning Mindset mini-series.

Bachelet, who prior to her role as UN High Commissioner served as the President of Chile, is a key figure in the world of accessibility, and in her role with the United Nations is part of an organisation supporting WeThe15.

Speaking with Para Swimming star Cole, Bachelet reflects: “Our aim with the IPC was to change the narrative on persons with disabilities. It leads to the lives of people being prejudiced and ableism causes an unconscious bias. To change this narrative, we need a new discourse. The objective is simple: we want everyone to know persons with disabilities represent 15% of the population, and that having an impairment doesn’t make you a lesser person.”

Alongside Bachelet, Netflix’s Rising Phoenix star and Para Swimming sensation Cole spoke on how she sees the campaign playing a significant part in disability rights, as she continues her preparations for her fourth Paralympic Games. 

Launched ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, WeThe15 aims to end discrimination towards persons with disabilities and act as a global movement publicly campaigning for disability visibility, inclusion, and accessibility.

This episode is the first of four to be released throughout the course of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, focusing on the WeThe15 campaign. To find out more, visit http://www.wethe15.org. 

Webby and Digiday award-winning podcast, A Winning Mindset: Lessons From The Paralympics, delves into the lives of those at the heart of the Paralympic Movement. Athletes and individuals who have life lessons to educate listeners, and to apply to every single day.