Michelle Donelly had the honour of working with John Roarty  OA – a pioneering disability activist and author of Captives of Care- as a founding member of Citizen Advocacy Ryde Hunters Hill (before the organisation became Side By Side Advocacy). She has been actively involved in the organisation for over thirty years. Michelle is committed to full and effective participation of people with disability as demonstrated by her roles as a foundation board member of Family Advocacy, her former role as a Board member NSW CID and her role as a Citizen Advocate. She has a personal, academic and professional commitment to the co-creation of a more socially just and inclusive community. Michelle is Adjunct Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy at Southern Cross University. She has also been involved in research on topics including Circles of Support; Inclusive Governance; the experience of families in rural areas navigating the NDIS,  the income equity of people with disability and factors influencing the participation of Aboriginal people in disability services.