Janelle Colquhoun championing access through lived experience

For Janelle Colquhoun, music and sport have always gone hand in hand. A classically trained soprano who has performed on stages around the world, she also lives with disability, which has shaped her advocacy for inclusion. “I lost my sight when I was 29. At first, I thought that meant giving up so many things I loved. But I soon realised that with the right supports, you don’t have to stop doing what matters to you.” 

One of those things was archery. Janelle took up blind archery, using tactile and auditory guidance to aim and shoot. “Archery taught me that with the right adaptations, you can achieve at a high level. It wasn’t about lowering expectations — it was about finding a different way to succeed.” 

Through both her artistry and her sport, Janelle became deeply involved in community programs, where she saw the potential and the barriers for people with disability in recreation. “Too often, activities are designed as though we’re not going to be there. That’s what needs to change — the assumption. We are here, and we want to participate.” 

She is passionate about the role of data in driving change. “If organisations don’t count us, we’re invisible. Collecting participation data isn’t about ticking a box, it’s about showing who’s missing out and making sure they’re included next time.”

For Janelle, inclusion isn’t about special treatment — it’s about universal access. “If you design a program so a blind person can participate, you’re actually making it easier for everyone. Accessibility benefits the whole community.” 

Her vision is clear: “I want to see a time when people with disability aren’t ‘added in’ later, but thought of from the beginning. That’s when we’ll know sport is truly inclusive.”