User:VivianaNZ/sandbox

'''Juliana Carvalho '''

Juliana Carvalho (born Juliana Carvalho dos Santos; 3rd of October 1981) is a Brazilian author, disability activist, and inspirational speaker. She is best known for her autobiographic book “Na Minha Cadeira ou Na tua?”   (Terceiro Nome, 2010) and the English e-book translated title to “In my chair or yours?” (Kindle Amazon, 2012) and her petition       #LetHerStay asking for a change to the New Zealand immigration policy of Health Requirement by complying with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Early life

Juliana Carvalho was born Juliana Carvalho dos Santos in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil on October 3, 1981. Carvalho is the third of five children and her parents divorced when she was 17. At 19 years of age, she was diagnosed with transverse myelitis (TM) - a rare neurological condition in which the spinal cord is inflamed - caused by  Systemic Lupus Erythematous (SLE). The disease left her in a wheelchair.

'''Career '''

Juliana Carvalho graduated with a Bachelor of Communication Studies – Major in Advertising at PUCRS (Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul) in 2004. She worked as a public servant at Legislative Assembly of Rio Grande do Sul from 2004 to 2012, where she created, directed and presented the Brazilian television show “Make a Difference”, which promoted human rights and respect for diversity and had its premiere on the 25th of May 2008 Cadeirante e deficiente visual apresentam programa na TV Assembléia, 2008, August, Coletiva.Net, https://www.coletiva.net/noticias/cadeirante-e-deficiente-visual-apresentam-programa-na-tv-assembleia,168256.jhtml. On 18th October 2011 the show started to be broadcasted by the TV Educativa de Porto Alegre. Juliana presented her last episode in 2012 before moving to New Zealand. The show is still going. Between 2011 and 2012, Juliana coordinated the campaign Assembleia Inclusiva    to transform the parliament more inclusive to people with disabilities.

'''Publications '''

In April 2010, Juliana’s autobiography In my chair of yours? was published by Terceiro Nome. She toured several Brazilian states capitals (Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo , Brasília , Minas Gerais e Porto Alegre) signing her book. In 2012, In my chair or yours? was selected by the The National School Library Program (Programa Nacional Biblioteca da Escola – PNBE). The Program was created by the federal government in 1997, with the aim of promoting the habit of reading and expanding access to culture and information. Through direct sale and the PNBE, Juliana’s book sold more than 30 thousand copies in Brazil. At the time of it’s launch, In my chair or yours? was one of the most commented books by the Livraria da Folha newsroom. From 2009 to 2012, Juliana was a contributor to the Blog Sem Barreiras do Grupo RBS, writing about accessibility, inclusion, sexuality and disability topics.

Activism

Juliana coordinated in 2010 and 2011 the Movimento Superação parade  (Which celebrates diversity, timed to commemorate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities) in her native state in Brazil. In New Zealand, Juliana has advocated for accessibility  and joined, in 2017, the Access Matters campaign    to create accessibility legislation in the country. After several years judicially battling Immigration NZ     , on 1st of October 2019, Juliana created an online petition [5][6][7][8] and wrote an open letter[9] asking the Immigration Minister to let her stay in New Zealand and to change the policy which was preventing her to become a resident. On 22 of July 2020, Associate Minister of Immigration Poto Williams granted Juliana exceptional circumstances and she receive the resident visa on 8th September 2020. Juliana continued the campaign for a review of the immigration policy which discriminates against people with disabilities and chronic health issues. Alongside Huhana Hickey and other disability activists, Carvalho told her story at the Hikoi of Hope for the Disabled – a march asking for disability representation in Parliament - and asked MP Jan Logie to represent her to submit the petition to the House of Representatives. The petition has gathered more than 34,757 signatures and was submitted to parliament on 18 of May 2021.

Awards

2008 - What the eyes cannot see, the legs cannot feel. Among more than 1,500 subscribers to the Claro Curtas Festival, the video made by a team of professionals from TV Assembléia was the winner of the popular jury and also received an honorable mention for best argument. The short film was produced and directed by Juliana and other colleagues. 2012 - Best True Story (Eu, Leitora promotion) from Marie Claire Magazine Brazil in 2012. After sharing how she rebuilt life and sexuality, Juliana won the Embrace ring from designer Antonio Bernardo, destined for the 1st place in the 13th of the promotion.