--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One of the things I struggled with…" description: "\"One of the things I struggled with growing up was that that I never saw anyone like me on TV or in the newspaper. If I did see someone in a wheelchair ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/540/dylan-alcott-5673_accident_one-of-the-things-i-struggled-with-growi_576718.jpg" --- # One of the things I struggled with growing up was that… ![“One of the things I struggled with growing up was that that I never saw anyone like me on TV or in the newspaper. If I did see someone in a wheelchair on screen it was always a road safety ad for somebody who'd had an accident and ended up in a wheelchair and their life was over. I thought, that's…” quote by Dylan Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/540/dylan-alcott-5673_accident_one-of-the-things-i-struggled-with-growi_576718.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/540/dylan-alcott-5673_accident_one-of-the-things-i-struggled-with-growi_576718.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/540/dylan-alcott-5673_accident_one-of-the-things-i-struggled-with-growi_576718.jpg) > “One of the things I struggled with growing up was that that I never saw anyone like me on TV or in the newspaper. If I did see someone in a wheelchair on screen it was always a road safety ad for somebody who'd had an accident and ended up in a wheelchair and their life was over. I thought, that's not my life!” [Dylan Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-alcott/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Growing up without representation, he felt media misrepresented disability, prompting a desire for authentic stories. **In simple terms:** Lack of representation hurts identity. Key Takeaway Advocate for diverse media portrayals. Themes representation identity media bias Mood reflective determined Type advocacy inspirational When to use this quote - TV casting - news coverage - public policy Key Concepts social inclusion visibility Questions to Reflect On - How can media creators include authentic disabled voices? - What impact does representation have on self‑esteem? A Different Perspective Changing entrenched industry habits is slow. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accident](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accident/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Wheelchair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wheelchair/) ## Related quotes > [At 70, my late father, Peter, underwent a foot amputation after surgical complications. There were suggestions that at his age being in a wheelchair…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanni-grey-thompson/at-70-my-late-father-peter-underwent-a-foot-amputation-after-surgical/) [Tanni Grey-Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanni-grey-thompson/) > [Well, I'm using a cane, so what? So what if they shot me sitting in a wheelchair? That's life!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-clark/well-i-m-using-a-cane-so-what-so-what-if-they-shot-me-sitting-in-a/) [Dick Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-clark/) > [It was physically difficult, adjusting to wheelchair life, but I remember a great relief and happiness that I was finally getting somewhere, finding musicians…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wyatt/it-was-physically-difficult-adjusting-to-wheelchair-life-but-i/) [Robert Wyatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wyatt/) > [I remember being a 17-year-old wheelchair basketballer at the Paralympics. I just wanted to beat everybody, but I also wanted to do it in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-alcott/i-remember-being-a-17-year-old-wheelchair-basketballer-at-the/) [Dylan Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-alcott/) > [As a kid with disability, if you told me anybody in a wheelchair, let alone myself, would be Australian of the Year later, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-alcott/as-a-kid-with-disability-if-you-told-me-anybody-in-a-wheelchair-let/) [Dylan Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-alcott/) > [When I hated myself, I went to a tennis tournament. I was no good but I played. And when I got there, I saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-alcott/when-i-hated-myself-i-went-to-a-tennis-tournament-i-was-no-good-but-i/) [Dylan Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-alcott/) > [I think you can do anything in this life whether you're in a wheelchair or not. I go to festivals, nightclubs, I travel the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-alcott/i-think-you-can-do-anything-in-this-life-whether-you-re-in-a/) [Dylan Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-alcott/) > [When I first played tennis... I was 11 or 12... and the craziest bit about that tennis tournament is that I had never seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-alcott/when-i-first-played-tennis-i-was-11-or-12-and-the-craziest-bit-about/) [Dylan Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-alcott/) > [I questioned whether anyone would love me because I'm in a wheelchair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-alcott/i-questioned-whether-anyone-would-love-me-because-i-m-in-a-wheelchair/) [Dylan Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-alcott/) > [If I could take a magic pill that would mean I'm not in a wheelchair anymore, you couldn't pay me enough to take it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-alcott/if-i-could-take-a-magic-pill-that-would-mean-i-m-not-in-a-wheelchair/) [Dylan Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-alcott/) > [I'm proud to play wheelchair tennis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-alcott/i-m-proud-to-play-wheelchair-tennis/) [Dylan Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-alcott/) > [Starlight Foundation gave me a wish to go away for a trip, which was really amazing at the time, and Variety Children's Charity gave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-alcott/starlight-foundation-gave-me-a-wish-to-go-away-for-a-trip-which-was/) [Dylan Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-alcott/) > [People used to stare at me when I was growing up because I was in a wheelchair, and I hated it. Now they're staring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-alcott/people-used-to-stare-at-me-when-i-was-growing-up-because-i-was-in-a/) [Dylan Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-alcott/) > [Playing tennis and wheelchair basketball has opened a lot of doors for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-alcott/playing-tennis-and-wheelchair-basketball-has-opened-a-lot-of-doors/) [Dylan Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-alcott/) > [When I was a kid and I was getting bullied at school and I was really upset, I'd say, 'I don't know anyone like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-alcott/when-i-was-a-kid-and-i-was-getting-bullied-at-school-and-i-was-really/) [Dylan Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-alcott/) ## More by Dylan Alcott > [It's interesting, I don't really think too much about being a role model or leaving a legacy or whatever. It's just not how I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-alcott/it-s-interesting-i-don-t-really-think-too-much-about-being-a-role/) [Dylan Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-alcott/) > [I remember being a 17-year-old wheelchair basketballer at the Paralympics. I just wanted to beat everybody, but I also wanted to do it in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-alcott/i-remember-being-a-17-year-old-wheelchair-basketballer-at-the/) [Dylan Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-alcott/) > [Early '90s hip hop is my thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-alcott/early-90s-hip-hop-is-my-thing/) [Dylan Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-alcott/) > [I love my disability. It is the best thing that ever happened to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-alcott/i-love-my-disability-it-is-the-best-thing-that-ever-happened-to-me/) [Dylan Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-alcott/) > [I want to do all kinds of stuff and it's hard to do it all at once.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-alcott/i-want-to-do-all-kinds-of-stuff-and-it-s-hard-to-do-it-all-at-once/) [Dylan Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-alcott/) > [People used to stare at me when I was growing up because I was in a wheelchair, and I hated it. Now they're staring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-alcott/people-used-to-stare-at-me-when-i-was-growing-up-because-i-was-in-a/) [Dylan Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-alcott/) > [Starlight Foundation gave me a wish to go away for a trip, which was really amazing at the time, and Variety Children's Charity gave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-alcott/starlight-foundation-gave-me-a-wish-to-go-away-for-a-trip-which-was/) [Dylan Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-alcott/) > [One thing I struggled with the most was my brother started playing football, AFL and I remember I went down and wanted to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-alcott/one-thing-i-struggled-with-the-most-was-my-brother-started-playing/) [Dylan Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-alcott/) > [I can't tell you how much I struggled after the golden slam. I had actual depression. I hadn't seen my family - it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-alcott/i-can-t-tell-you-how-much-i-struggled-after-the-golden-slam-i-had/) [Dylan Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-alcott/) > [Well, I call the Olympic Games the crappy warm ups for the Paralympic Games, right? Once every four years people with disability are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-alcott/well-i-call-the-olympic-games-the-crappy-warm-ups-for-the-paralympic/) [Dylan Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-alcott/) > [More people need to be proud of their disability instead of shying away from it, because as soon as I became proud of it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-alcott/more-people-need-to-be-proud-of-their-disability-instead-of-shying/) [Dylan Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-alcott/) > [That's why I love the Paralympics. For two weeks, it's the big show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-alcott/that-s-why-i-love-the-paralympics-for-two-weeks-it-s-the-big-show/) [Dylan Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-alcott/) > [We have the best Paralympic sport in the world because of the integration with the able-bodied tour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-alcott/we-have-the-best-paralympic-sport-in-the-world-because-of-the/) [Dylan Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-alcott/) > [I wear a lot of black, mate, I'm from Melbourne. It's cool to wear black, isn't it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-alcott/i-wear-a-lot-of-black-mate-i-m-from-melbourne-it-s-cool-to-wear-black/) [Dylan Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-alcott/) > [I got bullied because of my disability, I used to get called a cripple or a spastic everywhere I went.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-alcott/i-got-bullied-because-of-my-disability-i-used-to-get-called-a-cripple/) [Dylan Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-alcott/) [Explore all 100 Dylan Alcott quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-alcott/) ## More Accident quotes > [Fame, we may understand, is no sure test of merit, but only a probability of such: it is an accident, not a property, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/fame-we-may-understand-is-no-sure-test-of-merit-but-only-a/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [I went to school at night in L.A. to brush up on my engineering while I applied to the astronaut program. I really did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-jemison/i-went-to-school-at-night-in-l-a-to-brush-up-on-my-engineering-while/) [Mae Jemison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-jemison/) > [“The accident in your rearview mirror already happened. The one in front of you is still preventable. Pay attention.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nakia-r-laushaul/the-accident-in-your-rearview-mirror-already-happened-the-one-in/) [Nakia R. Laushaul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nakia-r-laushaul/) > [People dont get married by accident and they dont get divorced by accident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-hayes/people-dont-get-married-by-accident-and-they-dont-get-divorced-by/) [Darren Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-hayes/) > [My father had Parkinson's, though he actually died following a bicycle accident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kt-tunstall/my-father-had-parkinson-s-though-he-actually-died-following-a-bicycle/) [KT Tunstall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kt-tunstall/) > [A tragic car accident put me in a wheelchair and dashed my hopes and dreams for the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madison-cawthorn/a-tragic-car-accident-put-me-in-a-wheelchair-and-dashed-my-hopes-and/) [Madison Cawthorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madison-cawthorn/) > [My musical career was an accident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sade-adu/my-musical-career-was-an-accident/) [Sade Adu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sade-adu/) > [The spirit in the body is like wine in a glass; when it spills, it seeps into air and earth and light….It’s a mistake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-michaels/the-spirit-in-the-body-is-like-wine-in-a-glass-when-it-spills-it/) [Anne Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-michaels/) > [accident ruled every corner of the universe except the chambers of the human heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-guterson/accident-ruled-every-corner-of-the-universe-except-the-chambers-of/) [David Guterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-guterson/) > [There is a French expression that says: to be exposed to an accident, to cross a street without looking at the cars means exposing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-virilio/there-is-a-french-expression-that-says-to-be-exposed-to-an-accident/) [Paul Virilio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-virilio/) > [It's no accident that most self-help groups use 'anonymous' in their names; to Americans, the first step toward redemption is a ritual wiping out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kirn/it-s-no-accident-that-most-self-help-groups-use-anonymous-in-their/) [Walter Kirn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kirn/) > [High birth is an accident, not a virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pietro-metastasio/high-birth-is-an-accident-not-a-virtue/) [Pietro Metastasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pietro-metastasio/) > [“I just got out of the hospital. I was in a speed reading accident. I hit a book mark and flew across the room.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/i-just-got-out-of-the-hospital-i-was-in-a-speed-reading-accident-i/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [However, I met with a horrible accident while riding my bike in Sangla Valley. The accident was a wakeup call for me stop getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhinav-shukla/however-i-met-with-a-horrible-accident-while-riding-my-bike-in-sangla/) [Abhinav Shukla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhinav-shukla/) > [“Because the core of my personal philosophy is that everything that happens to us benefits us, I was also spared the futility of cursing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/because-the-core-of-my-personal-philosophy-is-that-everything-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 922 Accident quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accident/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "One of the things I struggled with growing up was that that I never saw anyone like me on TV or in the newspaper. If I did see someone in a wheelchair on screen it was always a road safety ad for somebody who'd had an accident and ended up in a wheelchair and their life was over. 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