Young
Young
owners masters describe-myself
I wouldn't describe myself as a master of anything.
party self laughing
You know when you tell a self-deprecating story at a dinner party, everyone's laughing along with you? But then when someone else repeats that same story at another dinner party you feel they're all laughing at you?
default face hear interact mean people unsure
We often hear that people mean well: that so many just don't how to interact with people with disabilities. They're unsure of the 'right' reaction, so they default to condescension that makes them feel better in the face of their discomfort.
change great
Apologies are great, but they don't really change anything. You know what does? Action.
disability living works
The thing about living with any disability is that you adapt; you do what works for you.
accessible alone cool disability employer employing feat job wheelchair workplace
The battle to find a workplace that's wheelchair accessible is a feat in itself, let alone an employer who's going to be cool about employing someone with a disability in a job you actually want to do.
enormous faced persistent throughout trying
Many of us, particularly those of us with disabilities who have faced persistent discrimination throughout our lives, not least when trying to find employment in the first place, take enormous pride in our hard-fought jobs and careers.
people
People are uncomfortable about disability, and so interactions can become unintentionally uncomfortable.
along dependence easier fill guide hearing kinds lives modified services sorts
We fill our lives with all sorts of things that make it easier for us to get along in the world: wheelchairs, crutches, grabber sticks, hearing aids, canes, guide dogs, modified vehicles, ramps, as well as other kinds of services and supports. Disability does not necessarily mean dependence on other people.
brave count lost number public strangers wanting work
I've lost count of the number of times that I've been approached by strangers wanting to tell me that they think I'm brave or inspirational, and this was long before my work had any kind of public profile.
brings hinges money notion people pitiful pity quick send
Most disability charity hinges on that notion - that you need to send your money in quick before all these poor, pitiful people die. Peddling pity brings in the bucks, yo.
disabled fiercely people status
For me, and for many other people with disabilities, our status as disabled people is one of which we are fiercely proud.
certain hours number people work
The problem for many people with disabilities is not that we are not able to work a certain number of hours a week. It's that no-one will let us.
equality fall means trap treating
Too often, we fall into the trap of thinking 'equal' means 'the same' and that we achieve equality by treating everyone identically.