I’ve lived in the same co-op apartment building since the spring of 2010. There have been times over the years when I’ve been frustrated with where I live, but nothing quite like this past week. I live in a co-op in Ward 6 in Toronto. I’m fortunate to live in a wheelchair accessible apartment that … Continue reading Accessible Apartment elevators down 3 times this week in Etobicoke
Author: Melissa
Take Back the Night Toronto 2016 – Sept 16th
All People, All Access: Living with Disabilities and D/deafness for a Barrier and Violence Free World 55 Gould St. Ryerson Student Centre Friday, September 16, 2016 Community Fair 4pm Community Dinner 5pm Rally 6pm March 8pm This event is TRANS INCLUSIVE. ASL interpretation provided - ASL Poster Tokens provided Attendant care provided Childcare provided For … Continue reading Take Back the Night Toronto 2016 – Sept 16th
Toronto Area Community Consultations on Electoral Reform
Let's make sure disabled voices are heard on this important issue! The following is a list of community consultations on electoral reform happening in the Toronto area, please find the consultation closest to you if you wish to attend. There are consultations happening across Canada. Please contact your MP for more information on these consultations. … Continue reading Toronto Area Community Consultations on Electoral Reform
The 6th Annual Toronto Disability Pride March Saturday, September 24, 2016
Starting at Queens Park (111 Wellesley Street West) and marching to the School of Disability Studies at Ryerson (99 Gerrard Street East) from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM Please note: accessible washrooms are not available at Queen’s Park. Please see information on accessible washrooms on the route page. Why we’re Marching: To bring recognition of the struggles and value … Continue reading The 6th Annual Toronto Disability Pride March Saturday, September 24, 2016
Come out for TTC Accessibility for All!
Wednesday, August 31, 2016 at 4:00pm Please join us at Yonge and Bloor Station, Toronto, Ontario D!ONNE Renée is the organizer behind this event. If you have any questions, want to throw your virtual support behind her, or have comments, reach out to her via email or on Twitter at @OnElectionDay. Click to listen to audio … Continue reading Come out for TTC Accessibility for All!
Air Canada Discriminates Against Wheelchair User
Disability advocate Tim Rose is attempting to fly to Cleveland to deliver a presentation on the importance of accessibility. But, ironically, he can't get there because a major airline is refusing to accommodate - or even brainstorm possible ways to meet - his needs. Although Air Canada is the only airline to fly there direct … Continue reading Air Canada Discriminates Against Wheelchair User
Disabled People have better stories to tell
My proposed line-up of disability-themed movies: A group of crip sisters sharing stories of their struggles through the years, and how their crip sisterhood helped them through it. Maybe those crip sisters are on a spaceship, as part of a rebellion. Two young disabled people from divided houses fall in love. In an act of … Continue reading Disabled People have better stories to tell
Disability Rights and Physician-Assisted Dying – Saturday April 23rd
Saturday, April 23rd 2016 | 4:15 p.m. Multifaith Centre | 569 Spadina Ave (north of College) Speakers Melissa Graham Fighter for social justice, public speaker, writer, researcher, and proud disabled woman working with youth, women, & other disabled people in Toronto. One of the organizers and founder of the Toronto Disability Pride March. Maureen Aslin , Facilitator … Continue reading Disability Rights and Physician-Assisted Dying – Saturday April 23rd
Life, death, dignity, and the state
Originally posted at Socialist.ca Note: Since this article was originally posted April 13th, the text of Bill C-14 has since been released. It is still in it's preliminary form, and will likely change before it becomes law. The right to choose when and how we die, on its surface, may seem like something the government … Continue reading Life, death, dignity, and the state
Have Cane, Will Strut: Black Disabled Woman
Too good not to share, from SlowWalkersSeeMore
As a disabled Black woman born with a neuromuscular disability, I’m often asked “what are you?” and “what happened to you?” You know when you “appear” racially-ambiguous folks need to figure out how to categorize while casting a slight side-eye or sometimes smizing out of curiosity. Tis a funny thing to be straight-faced *giggles* with a not-so-straight gait.
Oh how they wait for the reply with eyes growing wide while dining on lines to describe your biology while scanning the expanse of your anatomy. The need to place you in a category and define who you will be, nothing in their frame of reference culled from mainstream imagery.
Let me tell you…
I’m a wool fedora pulled forward. I’m a calm struggle whose cadence is complicated. Staccato-strutting through life cracked, whole, complete with each clickety-clack of my cane tapping down the street. And my effort and pace solidifies occupancy of space…
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Sit Down, Fight Back 