So, disability pride is really about being proud of who we are as individuals regardless of what society says about us or to us. And often we are defined by our brains and our bodies and what they can and can’t do and I think it’s taking away the focus on strengths. We can look at strengths and we can also look at who we are and how we are.
So, disability pride is really about ensuring that we are given the supports and accommodations that we need to live the lives that we want to live and that are meaningful to us and that our preferences are respected. And that way, we can feel proud about who we are, but also society can then catch up be proud of what we can offer as well.
This time on VDAC I really want to focus on education, employment, and health. For when we are healthy and well educated, we can engage in the workforce in a way that’s really meaningful for us and we can have meaningful jobs and fulfilling jobs that suit our preferences and also our life choice as well. But those policies around education and health and employment really have to be codesigned with disabled people to ensure that they suit our needs, they suit our individual needs, that they don’t assume that we are all one group wanting the same sector assistance.
In VDAC I’d also like to highlight the language used around disability. Traditionally it has been said as ‘I have a disability’ which separates disability from the person. But there has been a lot of shame and negativity around being a disabled person and as we move into a place of greater pride and a place of owning our identity, that sometimes for some people, disability is integral to who they are, its how their brains work, it’s how their bodies work, and whether it’s different or not, it’s integral and it's absolutely okay. So when pride moves on its really important that the sectors and the community move on and also allow us to use the language of ‘I have a disability’ or ‘I am disabled’.
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