Sophie Geeves: Steptember Ambassador on Disability Advocacy, Education, and Culture

In this episode, disability advocate and Steptember ambassador Sophie Geeves shares her journey from early intervention with the Cerebral Palsy Alliance to presenting evidence in Parliament.

She opens up about the role of CPA in her life, what Steptember means to her, why inclusion in education is still a fight, and how she navigates belonging in both disability culture and mainstream society.

Key Moments:

[7:26] Why Steptember is about “movement in all forms” and how funds support babies and families.

[10:12] Transitioning from child to adult services with CPA.

[12:30] Sophie’s experience giving evidence to the NSW Upper House inquiry on education.

[23:31] Her advice for young disabled people finding their voice.

Connect with Peta:

Instagram: @petahooke

Website: www.icantstandpodcast.com

Email: icantstandpodcast@gmail.com

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Transcript:

Peta (00:00:03):Hello, and welcome to the I Can’t Stand Podcast, the show that explores what it’s like to live with disability. I’m Peta Hooke, I have cerebral palsy, and I’m your host.Every week I sit down with a person with disability whose lived experiences and perspectives are reshaping how disability is viewed and understood, not just within our community but by non-disabled people too.

This week, I’m speaking with Sophie Geeves. Sophie is a 27-year-old passionate disability advocate. She’s one of this year’s ambassadors for Steptember, a CPActive Champion with the Cerebral Palsy Alliance, and has even presented evidence to the NSW Upper House inquiry on disability and education. Sophie is clearly part of the new generation of leaders in disability culture—driven, articulate, and committed to inclusion.So without any further ado, let’s get into it.

Sophie (00:01:26):Hi Peta, thanks so much for having me. My name is Sophie, and I also have cerebral palsy, so we definitely have that in common. I’m 27—almost 28 next week. I live in Sydney, Australia, and I’m a disability advocate. I’ve worked for a number of disability organisations. I love skiing, hanging out with my dogs, and travelling. That’s a bit about me.

Peta (00:01:58):What a great introduction. And happy birthday for next week—that’s very exciting! I’ve always found 28 is a big year in people’s lives, so I’m excited to know you’ve got that ahead of you.I want to start with the Cerebral Palsy Alliance. How did they come into your life, and what was their support like when you were a child?

Sophie (00:02:19):I’ve been involved with the Cerebral Palsy Alliance for as long as I can remember—I don’t remember life before CPA. I started with them between 9 and 12 months of age, which was around the time of my diagnosis of cerebral palsy.

I was born at 31 weeks, so nine weeks premature, and I spent seven weeks in the NICU at Royal North Shore Hospital before coming home. I weighed just 1.1 kilograms—very small. During that time, an MRI showed a brain injury, and doctors explained that cerebral palsy was a likely outcome, along with possible hearing and vision impairments.

I started early intervention at CPA, receiving physiotherapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, exercise physiology—you name it. For me, early intervention has been the difference between walking with a walker and being in a wheelchair 24/7. It also meant I developed the ability to talk, despite hearing impairments creating extra hurdles.

As I got older, I joined holiday programs and met other kids with cerebral palsy, which was huge for me. I went to a mainstream school, which was great, but I was the only child with a physical disability, especially in primary school. That meant feelings of isolation. CPA gave me a safe place to relate and connect with others like me.

Peta (00:05:08):Your life has really come full circle—this year you’re an ambassador for Steptember. How do you feel about Steptember itself?

Sophie (00:05:19):I love Steptember. I believe it’s been running for about 15 years now. I remember when it was something only friends and family did to raise a bit of money for CPA, but now the wider community and corporate sponsors are involved.

It’s a powerful way for people to learn about cerebral palsy, and especially about the difference early intervention makes. Steptember has always been around in my life—I looked up to older ambassadors when I was a teenager, and now it’s amazing to be that person for others.

Peta (00:07:15):For those who don’t know, what is Steptember and what’s the overall goal?

Sophie (00:07:26):Steptember is a fitness challenge that runs all September. It’s not just about walking 10,000 steps a day like it used to be. Now, a wide range of fitness activities convert into steps. For me, walking 10,000 steps isn’t realistic, but if I do a half-hour boxing session, that can convert into 3,000 or 4,000 steps.

That’s what I love—it’s not only accessible for non-disabled people but also for disabled people. Steptember is about movement in all forms.

The money raised goes towards babies at risk of cerebral palsy or newly diagnosed, so they can access early intervention straight away. We know the first 1,000 days are critical for neuroplasticity, but often a formal diagnosis doesn’t come until around 12 months. That delay means families miss out on part of that window. Because you also need a formal diagnosis to qualify for the NDIS, many kids were missing crucial therapy. Steptember funding helps cover those therapy sessions until NDIS support kicks in.

Peta (00:09:52):Outside of Steptember, are you still supported by CPA as an adult?

Sophie (00:10:12):Yes—and that’s something I really like about CPA. They didn’t cut me off when I turned 18. I’ve been able to keep seeing the same therapists, with continuity of care and full records of my progress. It makes a huge difference. CPA supports you right through life, not just in childhood.

Peta (00:12:30):Not many 27-year-olds can say they’ve given evidence in parliament. How did that happen, and what was it like?

Sophie (00:12:30):I was involved in CPActive, a group of young people with lived experience of cerebral palsy. We shared stories and research about our schooling. One thing we all had in common was the fight to get fair provisions for the HSC. The documentation, testing, and hoops we had to jump through were exhausting.

I gave evidence to the NSW Upper House inquiry into the experiences of students with disability in education. I spoke not just for myself but for our whole group. We wanted to see change. The outcome was that the government is now developing clearer, consistent, and enforceable guidelines for HSC provisions—and even extending that thinking into universities.

Peta (00:18:24):You mentioned belonging earlier. How did belonging at CPA compare to belonging at school?

Sophie (00:18:48):At school, especially primary school, I often felt isolated. In high school I was lucky to have another friend with CP, and that helped, but I was still one of very few. At CPA, I had a different sense of belonging.

I joined a conductive education program with eight or nine girls with CP, all with different levels of disability. It was about life skills and motor skills, but just being with them was powerful. When things were tough at school, I looked forward to seeing that group. That gave me belonging.

Peta (00:21:05):You’ve been part of the disability community for a long time. What do you think about disability culture today?

Sophie (00:21:20):I think disability culture is really valuable. There’s something special about sharing lived experience with others who understand. At the same time, I don’t want to be segregated from mainstream society.

It’s a balancing act—embracing disability culture, but also making sure disabled people are included in mainstream spaces like schools, universities, and workplaces. Both are important.

Peta (00:23:22):What advice would you give young disabled people who are just finding their voice?

Sophie (00:23:31):Find your people. Even if that’s online or through social media, connect with others who get it. Some of the best advice I’ve received has come directly from people with lived experience.

And give things a go—you never know what’s possible until you try. Recently, I lived on university campus for two months. A year ago, I would have said “no way,” but I did it and it worked. Not everything has to be permanent—sometimes it’s just about trying.

Peta (00:25:23):I started this podcast because I was tired of strangers asking me inappropriate questions. If you could choose one question you never want to be asked again, what would it be?

Sophie (00:25:43):My absolute pet peeve is when strangers come up to me—at a café, a market, a concert—and say, “Congratulations, you’re doing really well.” I think, doing well at what? I’m literally just having my morning coffee.

Peta (00:26:21):Thank you so much for listening to this episode of the I Can’t Stand Podcast. If you enjoyed today’s conversation, the best way you can support the show is by sharing it with a friend or posting about it on social media. And if you have a moment, leaving a rating and review helps more people find these stories.

You can always email me at icantstandpodcast@gmail.com or follow me on Instagram at @petahooke. I’ll see you next week.

I’d like to respectfully acknowledge the Wurundjeri and Boonwurrung people of the Kulin Nation, on whose land I record this podcast today, and pay my respects to Elders past and present, and especially to disabled people within First Nations communities.