The Sydney teen finding his voice through food reviews
Jemill Comertpay was selectively mute for much of his life. Now his food review Instagram page has hundreds of thousands of views, built with support from his disability support coordinator, Saleha Bokolis.
Nineteen-year-old Jemill Comertpay has always loved food. Growing up in Merryland, New South Wales, he told his family, even before he had many words, that one day he’d be a “food taste tester.” Now, through his own Instagram page, he is one.
“I’m going to grow up and become a food taste tester”
Jemill lives with an intellectual disability and has been selectively mute for much of his life. His mother, Bee, remembers him saying that line as a child, even when he had very few words to work with.
Today, Jemill’s food review videos are racking up hundreds of thousands of views. Bee has watched her son transform since he started posting.
“His speech, his confidence, his happiness. When I watch his videos, I can see it’s genuine. His eyes are smiling,” she says.
A page built to change what inclusion looks like
Jemill’s page, @jemilleatz, was the idea of Saleha Bokolis, his disability support coordinator at Ability Alliance Care, who saw his passion for food long before he had a platform for it.
“Any time my support workers or I wanted a good meal idea, we’d ask Jemill, and he’d give us an honest review every time,” Saleha says. “He knows the best places in Sydney for a late-night kebab, the best snacks, you name it. Jemill knows food.”
She wanted his reviews to shift how people see disability.
“Social media is one of the biggest influences on what we accept as normal in society. So, I thought, why not let Jemill be part of that platform?” she says. “We have plenty of neurotypical food bloggers, so it’s time for something different.”
Honest reviews, and a job he dreamed about as a kid
Jemill now attends food events around Sydney with Saleha and friends from Ability Alliance Care, filming reviews and giving his verdict.
“Too often, people box those [living] with disability into what they can’t do, rather than what they can,” Saleha says. “With a bit of support, Jemill now has the job he dreamed about as a kid. That’s what this is really about.”
Food has also kept Jemill connected to his Turkish heritage. He is bilingual, speaking both Turkish and English, and grew up surrounded by the spices and flavours of home.
“As a child, he never ate anything without smelling it first,” Bee says. “He was always fascinated by flavours, and he’s always been incredibly honest. If he doesn’t like something, he’ll tell you.”
“Their dreams are never too far out of reach”
Bee hopes Jemill’s story reaches other parents raising children living with disability.
“When Jemill was little, we were told he might never talk,” she says. “To now see him reviewing food and connecting with people is something I never imagined.”