#disability-advocacy

#disability-advocacy

"I am so tired-exhausted even-of people using the r-word thinking it's somehow subversive and edgy when it's actually completely fucked up and abelist."

Until this spring, the story of how New York City launched the first "travel training" program for people with disabilities in the 1970s was nowhere to be found on Wikipedia.

Joseph Merrick is a man I have a long and complex relationship with. ... Now as a disability advocate and actor, I can think of no greater honour (yet heavy responsibility) than to tell the true story of Joseph Carey Merrick.

"I think a lot of kids who are ill or have disabilities will relate to it, but what I'm finding is that adults are really enjoying it too because there's so much Toronto history in it."

Grace, a non-verbal woman with severe disabilities, faced neglect in foster care for two decades, leading to a commission investigating her treatment and care.

The consultant-to-client approach often fails to create meaningful change, as external consultants cannot resolve issues deeply rooted in company culture, highlighting a need for internal support.

I’ve heard the story that when I was first born and they heard all these problems, they just said, 'We’re never going to treat her different. We're going to make sure she knows she’s not different. Look at me now. About to get married, live independently, have a wonderful career. If you give kids wings, they'll fly.'

Oda Al-Anizi expressed that his newly outfitted wheelchair has fundamentally changed his life, allowing him to explore the city’s trails and improve his mental health. "I've been able to go all over the city, explore the trails, I'd never done that in all my years of being here," he said. This newfound ability has made him feel more connected and social, enhancing his overall wellbeing.