The Parapan Am Games, August 2015. I was at the Torch Relay a few weeks ago, and one of the speakers, a well-known member of the disability community, and founder of a disability organization said, “Here in Canada, we won’t see your disability”. My jaw dropped. I wanted to believe that he hadn’t just said … Continue reading “Here in Canada, we won’t see your disability”…unless we can profit from it.
ableism
This election, it’s time for an Canadian Disabilities Act
This election, it's time for an Canadian Disabilities Act*. From coast-to-coast across Canada, disabled people and organization have been breaking down barriers without the support of or federal government, the individualized "solutions" miss the mark; access to society and quality of life is not created through tax breaks and savings plans. Now is a time … Continue reading This election, it’s time for an Canadian Disabilities Act
Why Canada needs more Disability Stories
I grew up in a small town of about 6000 people in rural Ontario. There were a few of us with disabilities in the area, but a small enough number that it was possible for those of us within that group to be at least vaguely familiar with each other. One I remember very clearly … Continue reading Why Canada needs more Disability Stories
My Picture
Take my picture take it if you dare Paint it in your mind an keep it there No gloss Every curve every scar Chin up chest out I am not what you see My true story Bared in imperfect harmony
Strange Situations – June addition
Between the double-takes in office buildings and people who think they’re “helping” when trying to push my wheelchair without asking, there’s a few amusing/uncomfortable stories that come up. These are real interactions I’ve had, just in the month of June 2015. Aside from the last one, none of these situations involved people who seemed as … Continue reading Strange Situations – June addition
Disability…the final frontier for marriage equality?
This week Americans finally achieved marriage equality, and my fellow Canadians cheered (and quietly gloated over the fact that we've had it for the last ten years). While this is truly awesome, it also tugged at a small quiet chord of pain for myself and many others. Amongst the cheers, some quiet whispers: we're not quite … Continue reading Disability…the final frontier for marriage equality?
The Grocery Shopping episode
My attendant mentioned that she hates grocery shopping with me because people stare at her with pity. I can’t say I blame her, it happens every week. What I did find strange was that she’s been working with me for a year, and only mentions this today. Maybe because when I backed out of the … Continue reading The Grocery Shopping episode
Ableism, not Assisted Suicide, is what we need to work against
Update January 23, 2016: Now that the panel has released its recommendations earlier this week, ableism in Canada is once again rearing its ugly head. Allen Mankewich, co-chair of the Manitoba League of Persons with Disabilities, responded to one such example in the CBC this week. The Supreme Court decision on assisted suicide brings up a … Continue reading Ableism, not Assisted Suicide, is what we need to work against
This International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Let’s Remember our Rights
In 2010 Prime Minister Stephen Harper ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). This historic document recognized specific ways that disabled people are often left out of society such as Access to Justice (Article 13), Living independently and being included in the community (Article 19), Education (Article 24), Adequate standard … Continue reading This International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Let’s Remember our Rights
No Shame in Falling
I hate falling. It serves as reminder to me that no matter what I do or what I accomplish, my body will at some point let me down, and that pisses me off. If you`re reading this and thinking there`s a lot of internalized ableism in there, you`d be right. So why do I feel … Continue reading No Shame in Falling
Sit Down, Fight Back 