Using Comedy to Challenge Disability Stereotypes | Madeleine Stewart on ABC, inclusion & NDIS cuts

What happens when you combine sharp comedy, lived experience, and fearless advocacy?In this episode of What Are We Drinking?, Rachel Carey sits down with comedian, writer, filmmaker and disability advocate Madeleine Stewart for a candid conversation about using humour to challenge stereotypes and change perceptions around disability.Madeleine shares her journey from growing up in Campbelltown to performing stand-up comedy across Australia, appearing on the ABC, creating films, and becoming one of the country's most recognised disability advocates. Together, Rachel and Madeleine unpack the power of representation, the realities of dating and relationships with a disability, inclusion in mainstream media, and the impact current NDIS changes are having on people with disabilities.This episode is funny, honest, challenging and deeply important.

Key Topics

- Madeleine's journey into comedy and advocacy

- Using humour to challenge disability stereotypes

- Representation in Australian media

- Working with the ABC and film projects

- Growing up with a disability in Western Sydney

- Dating, relationships and disability

- Why "inspirational" can be a problematic label

- Inclusion beyond performative diversity

- The current state of the NDIS

- NDIS cuts and their real-world impact

- Creating social change through storytelling

- The future of disability advocacy in Australia