#IDPWD2023

[myalgicencephalomyelitiscfstom]

On #internationaldayofdisabledpersons, please remember that not all disabilities are visible.

[carrythispictureforluck]

Happy International Day of People with Disability to my fellow physically disabled, chronically ill, mentally ill, neurodivergent, terminally ill community members, and those allies helping to advocate and raise our voices.

1 in 5 people are disabled, and most are invisible impairments. Be kind, be careful with your words and be accepting. There is a lot of ableism and stigma in society for people who identify as disabled to look or act a certain way, but disability is a spectrum, it's fluid and comes in a variety of severeness.

If you don't feel like you're "disabled enough" to identify as disabled, I hear you, and you belong.

[coolasakuhncumber]

I had a MASSIVE win today. The celebration for International Day of People with Disability I organised went really well - 50 people in the room and 250+ online from 3 organisations in close proximity to mine. The presentation by our guest speaker (who I chose) was really good and engaging and I was on the following panel discussion.

We went 10 mins overtime and still had 150+ people on the line when it finished and I personally received over 20 messages and emails from people saying how good it was and how important and impactful my points were. Also had a bunch of extra people sign up to join the Staff Disability Network and several people approached me at my desk afterwards for a chat.

I'm feeling pjysucally and emotionally exhausted now but this was a really really good day.