Shane Hryhorec
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Shane Hryhorec | |
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| Born | 1986 Adelaide, South Australia, Australia |
| Citizenship | Australian |
| Occupation | Disability advocate, public speaker, entrepreneur |
| Known for | Advocacy for disability inclusion and accessibility |
Shane Hryhorec (born 1986) is an Australian disability advocate, public speaker and entrepreneur.[1] originally from Adelaide, Australia.[2] His work mainly focuses on improving accessibility and inclusion for disabled people.[3]
Early life
He grew up in South Australia participating in a wide range of sporting activities[4] including swimming, football and triathlons. He was also a patrolling member of the Surf Life Saving Club while growing up on the coast.
Injury and Advocacy
In 2007, while at the age of 23, he sustained a spinal cord injury following a swimming pool accident in his apartment block and was later diagnosed as a C5 incomplete quadriplegic. The injury led him to begin advocacy relating to accessibility and disability-related initiatives. [5]
Hryhorec has been involved in advocacy relating to accessibility in public infrastructure, travel and tourism. He has worked with local councils and community organisations such as Push Mobility, Accessible Beaches Australia and Wheel Around the World on issues relating to physical access to public spaces and inclusive infrastructure.
He has participated in public speaking[6] and educational programs addressing disability awareness[7] and injury prevention, including initiatives such as Disability Leadership Institute.[8]
Career
Hryhorec founded the mobility equipment company Push Mobility[9] in 2013. In 2016 he launched Accessible Beaches Australia, an initiative promoting improved beach access for wheelchair users. The project has been referenced by ABC News[10] in reporting on efforts to improve accessibility at Australian beaches.
Hryhorec created the travel project Wheel Around the World documenting international travel as a wheelchair user. The project has been discussed in Australian media coverage relating to accessibility in global travel.[11]
Co-able which is an inclusive health and wellness co-working hub in Port Adelaide is also part of his career. It is a facility that provides workspace for professionals in the disability sector and includes an accessible gym, wellness rooms, shared offices, and communal areas.
Media coverage
His advocacy work and travel reporting have been featured by Australian media outlets including ABC News, SBS, and InDaily. He gained significant media attention in October 2025 when he documented his entry into the Federal Disability Minister Mark Butler's office due to front steps and lack of a working doorbell[12]. The story was covered by 9News[13], highlighting systematic inclusion gaps.
His 2022 ordeal at Abu Dhabi Airport where his passport and wheelchair were confiscated was also covered by UAE Times[14]. He later spoke out about being humiliated and patronized during a flight.[15]
His media coverage has focused on accessibility challenges in public infrastructure, air travel and tourism, with him appearing as a commentator and case study in reporting on disability access. [16]
Awards and Recognition
Hryhorec has received several recognitions for his work in disability advocacy and accessible travel[17]. In 2025 he was included in the “Beyond Barriers” list published by Condé Nast Traveller highlighting people working to improve accessibility in global travel.[18]
He was also named a South Australian finalist for the Australian of the Year[19] – Local Hero award and received the South Australian 40 Under 40 Game Changer Award.[20]
In addition, he has received recognition through the Disability Leadership Institute National Awards for contributions to disability leadership and social impact.
Personal life
While he is originally from Adelaide, South Australia, his primary residence and work are centered in Melbourne, Victoria. He has spoken publicly about lifestyle changes[21] following his injury and travels regularly for advocacy and media work.
References
- ↑ Birchall, Ebony; Hryhorec, Shane (2025). "In conversation with Shane Hryhorec: a litigant's perpective". In Birchall, Ebony (ed.). Strategic human rights litigation in Australia. Alexandria, NSW: The Federation Press. pp. 18–24. ISBN 978-1-76002-575-5. Retrieved 2026-02-02.
- ↑ "Adelaide wheelchair user: "One of the most distressing experiences I've had"". Adelaide Breakfast. ABC News. 2022-09-22. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
- ↑ "Dancing might be banned in this city, but this arts event has a workaround". ABC News. 2022-02-16. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
- ↑ "New paddleboard design lets more people with a disability get out on the water". ABC News. 2022-12-01. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
- ↑ "Travel blogger Shane Hryhorec helps wheelchair users to explore the world, but not without challenges". ABC News. 30 July 2024.
- ↑ "'Enough is enough': Disability advocates call for air travel to be more accessible". www.abc.net.au. 2024-12-05. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
- ↑ Richard (2025-10-08). "Shane Hryhorec Disability Advocate". Community Help and Togetherness (CHATS). Retrieved 2026-02-02.
- ↑ "Disability Leadership Institute | Shane Hryhorec". Retrieved 2026-02-02.
- ↑ "New paddleboard design lets more people with a disability get out on the water". ABC News. 2022-12-01. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
- ↑ "'Locked out of life': Australia has 12,000 beaches, but only 150 have access for people with disabilities". ABC News. 2024-03-15. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
- ↑ "Just the ticket: Adelaide advocate championing disability travel - News | InDaily, Inside South Australia". www.indailysa.com.au. 2025-03-17. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
- ↑ Oct 22, 11:54am; 2025 (2025-10-22). "Shane uses a wheelchair. He ran into a glaring problem at the disability minister's office". www.9news.com.au. Retrieved 2026-02-02.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ↑ Oct 22, 11:54am; 2025 (2025-10-22). "Shane uses a wheelchair. He ran into a glaring problem at the disability minister's office". www.9news.com.au. Retrieved 2026-02-02.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ↑ "Disability advocate Shane Hryhorec says he has passport, wheelchair 'tortured' at Abu Dhabi airport - UAE Times - Gulf News, breaking news uae, Business, Tech & Lifestyle". 2022-09-23. Retrieved 2026-02-02.
- ↑ "'The cabin manager rolled their eyes': Virgin Australia apologises to disability advocate". ABC News. 2024-03-25. Retrieved 2026-02-02.
- ↑ "Calls to make beaches more accessible for people with disabilities". SBS News. 15 October 2018.
- ↑ "Just the ticket: Adelaide advocate championing disability travel - News | InDaily, Inside South Australia". www.indailysa.com.au. 2025-03-17. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
- ↑ Morgan, Sophie (2025-01-26). "Beyond Barriers: 25 people making the world more accessible for 2025". CN Traveller. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
- ↑ "Shane Hryhorec | Australian of the Year". australianoftheyear.org.au. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
- ↑ "Just the ticket: Adelaide advocate championing disability travel - News | InDaily, Inside South Australia". www.indailysa.com.au. 2025-03-17. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
- ↑ Tulloch, Lee (2025-07-28). "After breaking his neck, Shane is on a mission to change global travel". Traveller. Retrieved 2026-02-02.
External links
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