As we observe Youth Week starting today, we share the story of Liv Fountain who is encouraging educators and young people to rethink what true inclusion looks like through advocacy and her own lived experience.
Being told to sit on the sidelines is something many young people with disabilities know too well. For Halberg Foundation Youth Council member Liv Fountain, those experiences became the driving force behind her passion for inclusion and advocacy.
At 20, Liv now uses her lived experience of cerebral palsy to speak up for young people with disabilities and encourage more inclusive spaces in sport, education and everyday life. She ensures that young voices are heard and valued.
During her early years at high school, Liv often felt excluded during PE classes. Rather than being encouraged to participate, she was regularly told to sit on the sidelines. Over time, those experiences shaped how she viewed sport and participation.
“An instance that I felt left out was during Year 9 high school PE. “My teacher very often told me that I could sit out on the sidelines. So, in subsequent years of PE, I did not participate,” Liv recalls.
While those moments were difficult, they also became part of the reason why Liv is passionate about inclusion today. Through her role on the Halberg Foundation Youth Council, she now contributes to conversations that help shape more inclusive environments for young people with disabilities.
For her, being able to share lived experiences, advocate for change and encourage more inclusive thinking across schools, sport and communities is the way forward for young people with disabilities in New Zealand. For Liv, being involved has also shown her that attitudes are beginning to shift.
“I have definitely seen lots of positive change regarding how educators view inclusive sport education,” she says. “I think teachers and professionals these days have a more open mind to what inclusion looks like and how they can include people with disabilities in these activities.”.
“The need to speak up is so important. It’s about challenging power and discrimination. And showing that representation is possible when we speak up and demand change.”
As Youth Week begins with the theme “Our Voices Matter – We Deserve to Be Heard,” Liv believes there has never been a more important time for young people to speak up; especially those from communities whose voices are often overlooked.
Liv believes that advocacy is not only about creating opportunities for herself, but also about ensuring future generations of young people with disabilities grow up feeling included, empowered, and confident to take part in every aspect of life.
