EXCLUSIVE | Allison Lang on True Inclusivity: Why Disability Representation Must Be More Than a Trend

Disability is often seen as a limitation, a barrier that defines what a person can or cannot do. Society places restrictions on those with disabilities, boxing them into narratives of struggle rather than strength. But Paralympian Allison Lang is shattering those outdated perceptions. As an amputee, she refuses to let her disability define her, proving that resilience and ambition know no bounds. Through her advocacy, athleticism, and powerful presence, she challenges stereotypes and inspires change. Lang isn’t just overcoming obstacles—she’s rewriting the rules, proving that disability isn’t a weakness, but a force that fuels determination and breaks barriers.

For years, she wrestled with accepting her body, struggling to see her difference as anything other than a limitation. Despite her love for outdoor activities, self-doubt led her to step away from them at 15. But her story didn’t end there. She found a new passion—sitting volleyball—a sport that transformed what once felt like a weakness into a powerful asset. Her dedication propelled her to the international stage, representing Canada at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. She and her team went on to win a bronze medal in sitting volleyball, creating history. Apart from being a force to be reckoned with in sports, Lang has been a powerful advocate for disability representation, using her platform to challenge stereotypes, promote inclusivity, and inspire others to embrace their differences with confidence and pride. Moreover, she has recently embraced content creation, using social media to share her journey, break stigmas around disability, and empower others through authentic storytelling and advocacy.

In the second part of this interview, I discussed with Lang about her journey as a disability advocate, how she went into content creation, and if she feels that true inclusivity still feels like an afterthought.

Here’s the interview:

Beyond Tokenism: For Allison Lang, True Disability Inclusion Requires More Than Just Representation

Aayush Sharma: While progress has been made in promoting diversity, true inclusivity in the media and fashion industries often still feels like an afterthought rather than a fundamental shift. From your perspective, what are the most significant ways these industries continue to fall short in authentically representing people with disabilities? Do you believe inclusivity is being treated as a trend rather than a lasting commitment?

Allison Lang: Yeah, that’s a very loaded question because there are so many different parts I want to touch on. But um, I still feel that inclusivity is sometimes an afterthought. It appears in different ways. Some brands are super inclusive, which is reflected in their values. They genuinely cast diverse models and hire people with disabilities. I think that’s where many brands are lacking—because they want to showcase diversity and inclusivity on screen, which, number one, is magnificent. But are they hiring people for a seat at the table? For input, for consulting? There are brands I’ve worked with that are truly trailblazers in this component, one of them being Anthropologie. I modeled for the launch of their adaptive-friendly clothing line last April—April 2024—alongside four other disabled models. But it wasn’t just about showing up and modeling the clothing. They had us come in, touch the fabrics, test all the different zippers, and give our input. They treated us almost as consultants.

Yes, these clothes are designed for disabled people, but before launching, they needed real input from disabled people. Does it work? Is it functional? Is it wearable? Will people purchase it? That’s what’s important—having people be part of the conversation and sharing their lived experiences. Too often, I’m told how to feel about my disability or how to dress with it, and that’s not right. Non-disabled or disabled, no one wants to be told how to feel about themselves. We all have different experiences. I’ve worked with other brands like Joe Fresh, Reitmans, and Browns Shoes, and they truly elevate how we want to appear in photos and tell our stories—whether through content creation or other forms of representation. Um, yeah, I don’t know. I’m hoping that after the Paralympic Games, I’ve seen a little bit of a shift worldwide—where brands are more willing to sponsor or include disabled people in campaigns. And I think that’s something that will never go away because our community will continue to grow.

I always say this too—whether or not you become disabled through illness or accident, we’re all affected by it in some way. We all get old, and aging is inevitable. Our hips, our knees, our ability to walk—it all changes with time. That’s why access and proper representation matter.

From Self-Doubt to Self-Love: How One Message Changed Her Perspective Forever

Aayush Sharma: You’ve built a strong platform to promote self-love and body positivity. What are some of the most touching messages you’ve received from those you’ve inspired?

Allison Lang: One that will always pop into my head is the very first message I ever got regarding my disability. I was truly terrified because I had never posted a photo of my leg online before. When I was 18 or 19, I went backpacking in Central America. That’s one thing volleyball gave me—the travel bug. I started traveling and competing internationally, and then I wanted to see more of the world. I took a photo in a bathing suit, and it’s really hard to hide my prosthetic when I’m in a bathing suit. I used to always hide my leg, wearing pants even in the summer months, but on a beach? I couldn’t do that. So I decided to try and be funny. I made a hashtag—Hop Around the World With Me—because I have one leg. I thought I was clever, and it made sharing the photo feel less scary. I just talked a little bit about my experience.

The algorithm was different back in 2012. Yeah, I don’t know how it worked, but the very first message I ever got was from a mother. She wrote: “Thank you so much for sharing yourself online. I have a young daughter who was just born missing her arm, and I was terrified because I couldn’t find any other difference representation online. Seeing you live your life to the fullest gives me immense hope for her future.” I can quote that message every day of my life. When I read it, it was like a light bulb moment for me. I’m gonna get emotional here, but for so long, I hid my body. I did that to make myself stand out less, to make everyone else more comfortable in crowds. And it was really hard on my self-esteem. But to have someone recognize that what I was doing was bigger than just me—that I was doing something for others—touched me.

That was the moment I decided I should start telling my story more. Because whether or not you have a disability, we all have insecurities. And if we share those insecurities, maybe they won’t be insecurities anymore—because we all experience them. That was one of the most powerful messages I ever received. It’s what started my self-love journey online.

Redefining Representation: The Ongoing Fight for True Inclusion in Media and Sports

Aayush Sharma: As a disability advocate, you’ve challenged perceptions, broken down barriers, and connected with people from all walks of life. What has been the most profound lesson you’ve learned about humanity—both in terms of the strides we’ve made toward inclusivity and the biases that still remain? How has this insight shaped your approach to advocacy, and what message do you hope to leave with the world?

Allison Lang: All of it—all of the bias, the way people approach inclusivity—is how I walk through life now. And I think there are so many different layers to it. It’s about inclusion in the representation of disabled people in media, specifically movies. Even now, they still cast able-bodied actors instead of hiring disabled talent. They would rather green-screen prosthetic legs onto actors than just cast someone who has one. Disabled talent exists. And every day that I think about that, I think about the Paralympic movement—how Paralympians are still an afterthought. The Olympics come first; the Paralympics come second. They’re not broadcasted the same way. Paralympic athletes are winning medals, but they don’t receive the same recognition.

There was actually a historical moment in Canada this year—I don’t know if you heard—but for the very first time, Paralympic athletes were awarded the exact same monetary value as Olympians in Canada. So equality and change are happening. For me, it’s so important to share these facts every step of the way. The progress, the things being taken away but added in differently—all of it matters. That’s why I advocate. That’s why I share things online. It’s why I love going into schools to talk about the Paralympics, modeling, and representation. Because so many students don’t realize they can create whatever life they want. Fun fact: I never, ever thought I would be a content creator, a model, or a motivational speaker. But that’s what I’m doing now. And it’s funny—because I became a teacher. That’s what my education is in. I wanted to be a safe space for kids in the classroom. But over time, that shifted. I didn’t love the curriculum, but I did love teaching about body positivity, bullying, disability, and para sport.

So I still teach—just in a different way. And I get to connect with kids on a more personal level. I do see that positive change is happening. And it just takes conversations like these, with more and more people, to keep that momentum going.

Collaboration Over Endorsement: Allison Lang on Building a Future of Education and Advocacy

Aayush Sharma: Is there a dream collaboration—whether in sports, fashion, or advocacy—that you’d love to be a part of?

Allison Lang: I don’t know if I have, like, a dream collaboration with a brand. I think my dream collaboration is to work with so many different people from my community. Rather than pushing products, I would rather push education alongside other disability advocates. There are so many people around the globe that I would love to create content with—content that’s educational, informative, and fun. I’ve worked with so many brands that I hold dear to my heart, but more than anything, I think it’s so important to collaborate with other people. And that’s what I’m hoping to do more of this year.

Aayush Sharma: Some rapid fire questions for you

1) Three movies or TV shows you love to watch?

Allison Lang: Schitt’s Creek because I just love the show, and Rising Phoenix because it is based on paralympians.

2) Books you love to read?

Allison Lang: Oh, I’ve already read 10 books this year—this year alone! I love to read. Right now, I just finished The Let Them Theory, which I think is an amazing self-help book. Oh, how do I even pick? I feel like I have a book to recommend for everyone! Actually, I’ll show you—it’s by a content creator I would love to collaborate with, Tiffany Yu. It’s called The Anti-Ableist Manifesto, and it teaches people all about inclusion and diversity. I love to go thrifting at second-hand stores, and that’s where I’ll find all my books. I have a stack on my bedside, and my friends think I’m a little crazy because I’ll read multiple books at once. I’ll read a romance novel at night and then a finance or self-help book during the day—because the stories are so different!

3) If you weren’t a para-athlete, what career or path do you think you would have pursued?

Allison Lang: My dream was—and still is—to be a travel blogger, okay? For a very long time, if you look at my Instagram way back when, I loved taking landscape photos, photos of me traveling. And maybe I’ll still pursue that. Just like you see the Intrepid book there—Intrepid is actually one of my partners that I work with. So my partner and I, we travel with them. He’ll write blog posts, and I’ll take photos. And so, it’s amazing.

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