Fiona's story: how do you make your AT you?

If Cinderella had a power wheelchair, you can bet it would be pink, have fabulous wheels, and match her handbag. And the glass slipper? It would need to be designer, of course! 

Meet me, Fiona Bridger. I’ve had cerebral palsy since birth, 43 years ago, and I’ve tried more assistive technology (AT) than I can count. But I have one non-negotiable rule: if it isn’t fashionable, it isn’t coming home with me! 

I was four when my parents painted my walker hot pink. Yes, I was making fashion demands before I could even spell fashion. Clearly, I was born with excellent taste and very firm design standards! 

Fast-forward 43 years, and not much has changed. My power wheelchair is pink with white wheels, my hand splint (nicknamed my hand jail) is pink camouflage and sexy black, and my hot purple AAC device has to pass the ultimate test: will it fit into my designer handbag? 

Because let’s be honest, I have standards. Even technology needs to accessorise! 

Fashion has always been part of who I am. My assistive technology needs to be practical, absolutely. But it also needs personality. Pink is my colour, quirky is my thing, and boring isn’t allowed.  

I’ve personalised my equipment with colours, patterns and styles that reflect me, rather than just what my body needs.  

This isn’t about choosing fashion over function. It’s about having both. I want equipment that supports my independence while fitting into my life, my outfits and my personality. 

After all, I didn’t spend years developing my personal style just to let a piece of equipment ruin the outfit! 

As a child, I didn’t want to be seen as just the girl with a disability. I wanted to be Fiona: the girl with great style, a big personality and, hopefully, fabulous outfits. 

Making my equipment my own has helped me feel more confident and more like myself. It reminds me that assistive technology doesn’t have to look clinical, boring or identical to everyone else’s. It can be colourful, creative and full of character. 

Maybe that’s why I went on to study art at university and complete a master’s degree. Colour, shapes, textures and patterns excite me. They make me smile, spark curiosity and add a little magic to everyday life. My favourite designer shop, Gorman, understands this beautifully.  

Living with disability has its serious moments and challenges, too. A splash of colour won’t fix everything. Unfortunately, no shade of pink has yet been invented that makes life's challenges disappear. Trust me, if it existed, I’d have ordered it in every available size! 

But the way we feel about ourselves matters. When something we use every day reflects who we are, it can make a real difference to our confidence and how we show up in the world. 

If I have to use it every day, it should make me smile every time I look at it. 

Disability equipment is part of my life, but it doesn’t get to decide who I am. I do. 

If a hot-pink wheelchair, a stylish hand splint and a purple ACC can express my personality, then why on earth would I settle for beige? 

And who knows? Perhaps one day all this pink will attract a hot-pink-loving boyfriend.  

Life is too short. Go nuts and shine! Your assistive technology helps you navigate the world. It should never stop you from expressing you.

Fi's POV is an online series where Fiona Bridger, Achieve Australia's Senior Researcher and Writer, and a person with lived experience of cerebral palsy, shares straight talk about life and disability.

You can watch Fiona talk about her stylish AT in one of her Fi’s POV videos: Opens in new window .

You can also follow Achieve Australia: Opens in new window on social media for more:

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How do you make your AT you? Share your story with us. You can use the 'submit a story' button or reach out to us on Facebook: Opens in new window .

Need some more inspiration? See how others in our community make their AT their own in Stories from our community: how do you make your AT you?