Action on Ableism: Challenging the Narratives
On Saturday December 2nd 2022, the John Humphrey Centre held a workshop about Action on Ableism: Getting to the Roots in honour of the International Day for Persons with Disabilities (December 3rd).
During the event, facilitators shared their own experiences and reflections living with disabilities, conversations moved into reflections on the timeline of the history of disability and disability rights in Canada; participants also reflected on the dehumanizing experience of people making assumptions about people living with disabilities’ capacity and having to prove their disabilities. The conversations sparked collaging, half of the group produced creative artwork that reflects the issues. The other half was engrossed with sharing their own reflections and experiences with each other which showed a need for spaces where people can talk openly about disability rights.
We challenged a “textbook” definition of ableism and pointed out the many ways ableism manifests in real life… Ways that can’t be captured by a definition.
“The Radical Inclusion team defines ableism as the belief that people with disabilities have less worth than people without disabilities. For instance, some people may hold the false belief that people with disabilities matter less than non-disabled people because they think that people with disabilities cannot contribute to society.”
To open this workshop, a song by one of the facilitators, Donna, was shared:
Filled with tears, giggles and dreams, so many dreams
Our one desire is to fit in to have our voices be heard to know we are valued and understood, as we proudly live in this world
Like you, we long to love and be loved
Like you, we'll conquer our fears. Hear my voice
Our one desire is to fit in, to have our voices be heard.
To know we are valued and understood, as we proudly live in this world.
We are all strong, we all have flaws, Like you we strive to succeed despite the challenge we meet.
Our one desire is to fit in to have our voices be heard to know we are valued and understood, as we proudly live in this worldLike you, we long to love and be loved
Like you, we'll conquer our fears. Hear my voice
Our one desire is to fit in, to have our voices be heard.
To know we are valued and understood, as we proudly live in this world.
We are all strong, we all have flaws, Like you we strive to succeed despite the challenge we meet.
Our one desire is to fit in to have our voices be heard to know we are valued and understood as we make our mark in this world.Hear my voice, see my dreams, Long to be loved, conquer our fears, Hear OUR voice!
