"They're like 'What? Both at the same time?' and I'm like 'Oh yes! I can multi-task!'"

Human rights advocate and author of Anecdotes of a Disabled Gay, Wayne is one of 12 speakers who'll take the stage of Canberra Theatre on September 16 for this year's TEDx Canberra event - the local version of the global TED (Technology Entertainment Design) talk phenomenon.

Wayne's absolute irreverence toward his disability - talking to him is like your own personal episode of the ABC's You Can't Ask That - is arresting.

He's like the love child of Steady Eddie and Ru Paul - camp as a row of tents (his own description) - and deeply passionate about how Australia, and in particular its leaders, value people with a disability.

He wants to change the conversation around disability from 'what can't you do?' to 'what are you amazing at?' And he's sick of being labelled "special or talented" for simply turning to his job at disability support organisation LEAD every day.

"It's really important for me to raise the profile of disability within our community, not only here in Canberra but around the country, and to do it in a way that shows that we're willing to laugh at ourselves - well I am - and we're willing to engage in the conversation," he says.

"More importantly for me it's about raising the profile of the good work that people with disability do every day and that it's not different, special or amazing, but it's the same as everybody else.

"There's this tendency for people - which I'm confronted by - to go 'Look at Wayne! He has a job!' But it's what everybody does.

"If society didn't constantly remind me I had a disability, I'd forget about it."

Wayne grew up in Grafton, NSW, in a loving and all-accepting family - "I never had to come out to my family, it was just who I was" - and moved to Canberra in 2009 when partner Luc scored a graduate position in the public service.

"I moved to Canberra and thought 'OMG I'm going to be in high demand for politically correct selection panels because I'm gay, I've got this voice, I'm left handed, I've got a limp and a limp wrist, what more could they want? Why haven't they hired me?'"

This year's TEDx lineup also includes 'earth listener' Andrew Skeoch, and nurse and education pioneer Dr Jane Frost.

TEDx Canberra licensee Ingrid Tomanovits describes sourcing talent in the ACT as "a dream".

"Canberra is bursting with the kind of talent we're looking for - people with ideas worth spreading," she said.

"We don't look for people who are the greatest public speakers. We look for people who are doing interesting, meaningful work that matters in the world.

"We work really hard with people so it's their voice our audience hears, telling their ideas in their way - but with the benefit of our years of experience with what works, and our coaches' input.

"When you look at what's happening in Canberra - incredible growth in the innovation ecosystem, growth in our small business sector, growth in our arts community, as well as the groundbreaking and sometimes world-leading research being done in our academic institutions - there are many, many great stories to be told."

Tickets for TEDx Canberra go on sale on Monday July 24. Head to TEDxcanberra.org for further details.