Access and inclusion matters: Renée Heaton tells us why
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You know how in dating apps they give you conversation starter suggestions? One of them is “what is something you learnt way later in life than you should’ve?”
I think for me, and probably most people if they think about it, it’s that disability is not inferior or deficient or “other” and people with disability are just the same as any other person. They have the same dreams and desires and wants and needs and just want to be seen as the same.
This sounds strange coming from someone who actually has a disability right? I know. But that’s how entrenched ableism is.
I’m a born and bred Canberra girl. I was born in the now notorious old Canberra Hospital , went to school here, played, socialised, worked and have lived a pretty good life overall.
Look at me now and it seems like I’ve pretty much got it together. I’ve got a good job that enables a pretty good lifestyle, I’ve got an amazing and plentiful group of supportive friends and family, and I’ve got those added extras in life like Netflix and a mobile phone and a killer red lipstick collection.
But it wasn’t always like this. As a person with disability who so very much did not want to be a person with disability when I was younger, I was presented with my disability status often. And that confirmation of my disability usually came in the form of exclusion, segregation, inaccessibility, and discrimination.
Now I’m fully accepting of my status as a disabled person. You see disability is just a part of being human. But it doesn’t mean that everyone thinks like that. And that creates all sorts of issues for me.
Did you know there isn’t a wheelchair accessible mammogram machine here in Canberra? Heck, I’m not even sure one exists! These machines are typically designed in such a way the patient needs to be able to have the mobility and strength to hug the machine yet also lean back their shoulders and head.
So, when I found a lump in 2019 you can imagine the task I had ahead of me trying to figure out what I could access, where and how soon. Having to do that amongst the constant worry that sits there in your mind because you’ve just found a breast lump was horrible.
You might be thinking “how does this happen?” How can an entire group of people just be forgotten and left out? This is the reality of life with disability. Inaccessibility, exclusion, and ableism affects every aspect of my life. Want to go out for dinner? Must call ahead and check for access. Visiting Enlighten? Be prepared to take the long way around because there’s no curb ramp. Want to do some shopping? Get ready for strangers to comment – things like “oh, don’t run me over” or “oh I wish I had one of those”.
So, what can you do about it? I could write you a list of dot points of all these things you can tick off. But really, I want you to go and figure it out.
Start by acknowledging the role ableism plays in your life and that there is much you don’t know or understand. Then go and fill those gaps with the views and experiences and knowledge of people with disability. Connect to them. We aren’t hard to find, we’re everywhere.
And right now, in Canberra we are very much present as part of the consultation for the ACT Disability Strategy.
The ACT Government is developing a new 10-year Disability Strategy to create a more welcoming and accessible community and improve the lives of the more than 80,000 Canberrans who identify as people with disability.
The Strategy is being led by people with disability and is seeking the input from the wider community on how Canberra should implement inclusive actions that will create positive change.
There are many ways you can get involved, from online and in person public forums to the kitchen table conversation kit and an online survey.
To find out more, visit the YourSay page at: yoursayconversations.act.gov.au/act-disability-strategy.
