To celebrate International Day of People with Disability 2023, former SA MP and disability rights advocate, Kelly Vincent will share their debut book, Dandelion Heart.

This book is a powerful collection of essays and poetry based on Kelly's experience as a physically disabled and autistic person, exploring themes from body image, sex and relationships, and mental health.

Kelly’s talk will include their inspiration for writing Dandelion Heart, and their writing process. There will be copies of Dandelion Heart for sale on the day.

Kelly's talk will be Auslan interpreted.

About Kelly Vincent

Kelly Vincent (they/them) was born in the Adelaide Hills. At 21, Kelly became Australia’s youngest Member of Parliament and first-ever appointed specifically on the platform of disability rights.

From 2010 to 2018, Kelly represented the Dignity Party in the Upper House of SA’s State Parliament, making vital changes for disadvantaged South Australians, including:

• Reforming the justice system for vulnerable victims of crime
• Establishing a treatment centre of excellence for the treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder
• Improving access to public transport
• Removing barriers in the NDIS.

Since leaving Parliament, Kelly has worked as a neurodiversity and disability policy adviser to a couple of government departments, then as Access and Inclusion Officer for the 2020 Adelaide Fringe season, and Project and Policy Officer for an LGBTIQA+ advocacy organisation.

Then Kelly realised they could combine their passions of accessibility and arts, and in 2020, they co-founded True Ability Theatre, a disabled persons’ theatre company, where they are the Creative Director.