At the age of six Sheldon Riley was told he would never be loved or achieve anything in his life because he was autistic.
Now he is one of Australia's most famous neurodiverse artists and represented the country at the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest.
Mr Riley said it was hard being open about his disability because he wasn't sure the music industry was fully ready for a singer with autism.
"I wasn't embarrassed about it, I was afraid it would lessen my chances in the industry because I didn't want people to think I wasn't capable," he said.
"Eurovision, for some people is one of the hardest contests in the world. For me, it was [like] 10 years of therapy to learn more about myself.
"I'm really proud, it took a lot."
Barriers in music
One of the most common problems artists with disabilities come up against is the attitude of others.
Emma Bennison is a blind musician and advocate for people with disabilities in the arts.
She has had a lifelong love of music and has recorded albums in her career, but said the greatest barrier for disabled musicians was attitude.
"It is frustrating. There's no question about that," she said.
"People just assume that if you're a person with disability, then by default, perhaps you're not as polished.
"I think that any artist has a struggle … particularly here in Australia, to get to that point where your work is actually heard or seen and accepted and enjoyed."
Australia lagging behind
Morwenna Collett is an access consultant for the arts and music sector and received a Churchill Fellowship in 2018 to research disabled inclusion in music overseas.
Ms Collett also has lived experience of being a musician with a chronic illness.
"Places like the UK and the US have perhaps just been on about this for a little bit longer and a little bit more loudly than we have here in Australia," she said.
"In the UK, their main funding body Arts Council England is really interested in equity, diversity and inclusion," Ms Collett said.
Kiana Kalantar-Hormozi is a disabled singer-songwriter based in Glasgow who released her first single Sirens in July last year.
Ms Kalantar-Hormozi was born with a genetic condition called Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 2.
She uses a powered wheelchair and has restricted breathing capacity, but with the right technology she can sing as well as anyone.
She said access was at times a problem for musicians with disabilities and the industry was not always supportive.
"If you live in a city or town, where there are accessible venues, I think that makes all the difference … because you can get out on that platform, and people can see you," she said.
"I think there's really an important opportunity now like never before, for the industry to become more inclusive," Ms Kalantar-Hormozi said.
The burden of masking disability
Some musicians mask their disabilities for fear they won't get booked for performances if the organisers knows they are disabled.
Sophia Fletcher was a singer and dancer before she acquired a disability in 2016, when she broke both her arms and legs in a severe fall.
Ms Fletcher lost her naturopathy business while recovering from the fall and was left with permanent pain.
Despite the challenges of her injuries, it inspired her to take up music again and she has written multiple albums about environmental and animal rights issues.
Ms Fletcher said booking live performances was difficult because she felt she could not be open about her disability for risk of rejection.
"I feared judgement or harassment," she said.
"I have worried my relationships with society in general and also others in the music industry will change their perception of me in a negative way, and I will not be accepted for gigs."
But she has now decided to become more open about her disability both for her own wellbeing and to inspire others.
"It has been somewhat of a burden to conceal a disability and has created strain in social and work situations that have negatively affected health and well-being," Ms Fletcher said.
"I am learning now that in contrast, disclosure could relieve the strain of hiding the condition and could increase the likelihood that I will find and develop a social support network with others who might have similar conditions or experiences."
Disabled-friendly venues, not always that friendly
Even disabled-friendly venues can be inaccessible to musicians that use mobility aids like wheelchairs.
Bearbrass Asylum Orchestra are an all-disabled, all-female band whose lead singer Jess Kapuscinski-Evans uses a wheelchair.
Ms Kapuscinski-Evans describes herself as "queer, quad, anxious and depressed".
"A lot of pubs have steps and no accessible entrance… so, I'm late to the party."
"But better late than never," she said.
Drummer Anthea Skinner said they have had to turn down gigs because of access issues.
"Strangely, some of the biggest access issues we've had have been at events that were designed for or by disabled people," Ms Skinner said.
"Either they're not wheelchair users and haven't thought about it, or they've thought about it for their audience, but not their stage," she said.
When Sheldon Riley represented Australia at Eurovision, he was also representing artists with disabilities.
He was surprised when his hit single Not the Same was chosen for the contest over other demos about love and heartbreak.
"I sent through Not the Same, said it was very personal, and they went, 'yep, that's it'," Mr Riley said.
"When you are representing the country with a song, everyone wants to know what it's about.
"It's a song about being told when you're six years old that nobody will want to know you and you'll be alone.
"We've been told it's something that will hold us back, but it's really something to be proud of."
