- Entry type: Person
- Entry ID: AWE6440
Snell, Kerry
- Occupation Feminist, Leader
Summary
Kerry Snell is a campaigner for equitable access to mainstream services and ensuring that people with disability are well represented through diverse leadership.
Read an interview with Kerry Snell in the online exhibition Redefining Leadership.
Details
Born in Brisbane, when Kerry was young she experienced frequent extended hospital visits. Through this exposure Kerry became aware of the importance of good governance for institutions to ensure that people accessing them are treated respectfully and with dignity. As her eyesight began to degenerate she devised a myriad of workarounds that disguised her vision loss. This made Kerry adept at problem solving, and finding adaptations and solutions to the challenges vision loss presents.
Kerry trained and worked as a teacher and went on to use these teaching skills as a consumer advocate. Holding governments and institutions to account for their policies and prejudices is an important facet of her community involvement. As an advocate for diversity in government and the community, Kerry is also wary of tokenism.
A clear commitment to equity and social justice naturally made Kerry a feminist too. Women with disability suffer higher rates of disadvantage and stigmatisation.