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SEP–DEC 2022 THE REVIEW | 13 FEATURE “The issue of not being disabled enough is arguably one of the biggest barriers to success after those school years.” – Thomas Chin They were always there when he needed them, but their “hands off, tough love mindset” certainly put Thomas in good stead. “I was advocating for myself from a young age. I was disputing things at primary school age – when I was young I was going directly to the principal to advocate for myself.” Thomas says all of that fed into his life as a teenager and young adult where he got involved in advocacy work and began to “realise the importance of what I said and how I said it”. all sectors. The issue of not being disabled enough is arguably one of the biggest barriers to success after those school years.” Thomas joined the Halberg Foundation as a 16-year-old volunteer, and in 2017 was an inaugural member of its Youth Council tasked with representing the voices of physically disabled young people. Thomas was instrumental in creating the Halberg Manaakitanga Leadership Programme, which focused on inclusion and disability inclusive events. “How do I create as many opportunities, and visibility, for disability, Cerebral Palsy and myself?” Thomas, a keen Boccia player as a young child, says growing up he often grappled with his internal expectations, as well as the expectations of others. “As I grew up, I became too able for [Boccia] based on the classifications, but I was too disabled to fit in to mainstream sport. How do I turn this into something beneficial? I was able to influence sporting policy and got into coaching.” Thomas says the “void between being too able vs being too disabled” is common in the disability sector – especially when it comes to education and funding. “That whole issue of being caught in the middle is across He has become “part of the furniture” at Halberg and has been involved in policy, youth development and the kaupapa (values, principles and plans) Māori strategy, and is now paid for the work he does. “I’m always go, go, go, and CP does catch up with me, I’ll often be down with tiredness and general fatigue for three or four weeks. “It’s about cutting down on what I’m doing, but making sure that what I am doing is the most beneficial work.” Thomas is in his fourth year of studying law at the University of Canterbury where he is an executive member of the Māori Law Students’ Society, and a recipient of the University of Canterbury Emerging Leaders Development Program Scholarship. Above: Thomas Chin, 22, has been advocating for himself from a young age. Photo: Melanie Louden. Opposite top: Thomas is always looking to create opportunities. Photo thanks to: Halberg Foundation and Photosport NZ. While studying he is also working at All is for All as Content Producer and Engagement Advisor. The organisation works with local non- profits and global powerhouses, empowering them to embrace disability as a cultural lens. Thomas saw taking part in Be Green & Be Seen as an opportunity to remind Kiwis that Cerebral Palsy is “so expansive and so vast”. “What you can expect from me isn’t what you can expect from someone else with Cerebral Palsy,” he says. “Engage with the person, not with the disability. Have a dialogue, and communicate with that person about what works for them.”