Is Hay (He/They), Navigating My Way Project Officer
Despite being disabled since I was born, I have only embraced Disability Pride in the last five years. It’s changed my life, but the pathway wasn’t easy.
I began my career working in the disability sector, before I knew I was disabled. At a job interview in the sector, I was asked about my experience of disability, I listed all my diagnoses including my mental health conditions but then said, “but I don’t know if I count as disabled”.
The interviewer, who was disabled too, replied simply with ‘you do’.
My cheeks flushed and a new feeling came over me – I was seen, and it made me feel proud.
When I reflect on my experiences and identity I mark that moment as a turning point – a clear line signifying the before and after of that moment.
As someone who has a combination of disabilities – physical, neurological, psychosocial, visible, invisible, dynamic, static, etc. – I am all too familiar with internalised ableism.
When I began to use my wheelchair for the first time, the world became a lot more physically accessible to me, but the thoughts of being “not disabled enough” still rang through.
For me, Disability Pride is owning my disabled and mad identities, in spite of the internalised, and systemic ableism and sanism I experience.
Disability Pride isn’t about denying the complex and sometimes challenging relationship I have with my disabilities and mental health but choosing to be unapologetic in taking up space as a disabled person.
Being mad is powerful, and I appreciate that I get to wield this disabled power, in honour of those who came before me and fought for consumer rights and disability justice.
My Disability Pride is revolutionary, even if I am still working on what it means to me.