Dutton Farm’s Post

This Disability Pride Month I want to come out as disabled. I have lived with chronic pain and chronic illness for many years. I intentionally say "come out" because I don't "look" disabled. I am neurodivergent (adult diagnosis) which lead to a lot of punishment and discipline as a child. At the same time, because I was academically an achiever, I never received the support I needed because everyone assumed that I was fine based on the one marker of my grades in school exams. Yet, I spent much of my childhood silently confused about social cues, unable to sit still, constantly bored but disciplined into never complaining about it, and constantly losing relationships because I could not understand subtext. Chronic pain became a reality during grad school. Several different conditions combined led to days and weeks when I could barely get out of bed due to pain. I had to readjust my overachieving ways. I had to unlearn my internalized ableism. I could tell someone else to rest but held an unrealistic standard of productivity for myself. Ableism isolated me from community building. It was only when I was ready to accept my vulnerabilities and limits that I truly began to form lasting and nurturing bonds of friendship. Why am I sharing this? I am sharing this because to me Disability Pride is the pride I have in my community of disabled friends and activists who have made it possible for me to dream a kinder and more fulfilling way of life for myself. I allow myself to start my day whenever I have the adequate energy. I allow myself to stop when I can no longer focus. I allow myself to stay home or to step out as often as my mind and body need. I am more rooted. I inherited this knowledge from countless black, indigenous, dalit, women, queer disabled people who came before me and wrote this knowledge down. Shared it so it would be passed on and on. I know that some might read this and think revealing my disabilities is risky because it hinders potential employment. Others might think I am grabbing attention, others have it worse. But here is the thing, disability justice is not just about fighting shame or creating accommodations. It is about abolishing all systems that perpetuate and maintain disabilities as a way to control people and exclude them from society. Disability justice is about refusing that isolation and forming community despite all odds. It is about abolishing war, nuclear weapons, police brutality, and system oppression that all weaponize our bodies and minds against us. Disability justice means standing with all peoples who are being erased through militarization and deliberate deprivation. I am proudly disabled. It marks me as someone in solidarity with all those that have been marked by this relentlessly oppressive system that wants to divorce us from our very bodies. #FreePalestine #WeAreNotFreeTillWeAreAllFree #NothingAboutUsWithoutUs

Disability Pride Month - What an interesting name for the month. It's not Disability Awareness month or Disability Access month, it's Disability Pride Month. Taking Pride in the fact that we are disabled. That's a rough one. And I speak as a disabled person. Is there really pride in the PTSD that I live with from childhood trauma that makes my life harder? Or in my neurodivergence that the world does not accept or accommodate. Or in my substance use disorder that causes others to either judge or pity me? The answer is yes. I am a proud disabled person. I take pride in the many strengths that I have. Some come from my disabilities and others do not. But I do take pride in making others aware of the supports that I may need. I stand up for myself and others in my community without fear or shame. The systemic ableism that exists in every single aspect of life used to make me both sad and rageful. But not anymore. Because today I outloud it all. Every single thing that the powers that be put in place to silence the disabled community. I try to feel proud of myself on a regular basis, but I will make an extra effort this month to feel pride about being disabled. Do you, the person who is able bodied want to support us disabled people this month? Great. Read an article written by a disabled person or a disabled led organization about Ableism. Recognize one thing that you can do differently in your personal or professional life. Dont share inspiration porn, an example of which is a video about how amazing it is that a disabled person managed to do something that you thought we couldn't do. Sharing those videos gives the impression that disabled people don't overcome challenges multiple times a day. It makes people think that success is a rare occurrence. It is NOT. Let us speak for ourselves in whatever way we choose to communicate. Read about internalized ableism. When u advocate against racism, sexism, classism, homophoboa, transohobia, xenophobia etc, include the word ableism. You can do that. It's not hard. Be our allies. Don't pity us. We don't need or want that. We also don't need you to speak for us. But we do need the microphone. Can you take the mic and hand it to one of us? Disability Pride Month - celebrate with us.

It may be a controversial opinion, but I have mixed feelings about Disability Pride Month. Don't get me wrong... Am I thrilled that there is an entire month dedicated to recognizing disability, a community that's often been left in the shadows? YES, absolutely! Am I overjoyed that so many people can be their authentic selves in spite of challenges and celebrate a crucial piece of their identity? Also YES! Am I proud of my disability? That's a loaded question. Growing up, I never thought of myself as disabled. Did I walk differently? Yes! Did I use my hands differently? Yes! When I lost my ability to walk and started using a scooter at age 10, did I find ways to adapt to life? Yes! My parents, my friends, my teachers—everyone obviously knew I was different, but accommodations were made, and I found my way through life just as we all do. I didn't begin to use the label "disabled" until I got out of college and tried to find a job and was met with a slew of closed doors I became disabled by society: attitudinal barriers, limiting beliefs, and the resources in place for people with disabilities felt like a slap in the face. I qualified for Social Security Income, receiving a mere $900 a month to live on, and Medicaid, which at the time refused to pay for my scooter (my legs), so I had to pay out of pocket (with what money)??? It was recommended that I have my student loans forgiven due to my disability status, but that meant if I did get a job, I wasn't allowed to earn more than the poverty level ($16k at the time) and I wasn't allowed to receive additional funding to return to school. This felt like giving up. I was caught between a rock and a hard place. To say it was awful is an understatement at best. Living—no, not living... existing this way for several years did a number on my self-worth and frankly my desire to exist in a society that had no problem shutting me away. But, I'm spunky, and I didn't give up. I eventually caught a break, and it changed my life, but the majority are not so fortunate. It's difficult for many to be proud of a piece of their identity that society has made to feel less than, unworthy, and excluded time and time again. I find pride in identifying: As a Woman. As an advocate. As an ally. As a leader. As a survivor of SA. As choosing to be sober And yes, I find pride in my disability because it's made me stronger than I could have ever imagined. My lived experience has given me purpose and a passion to give back, help people break down their biases, and drive progress towards a more inclusive and accessible society. By listening to those with lived experience, checking your biases, challenging your assumptions, and becoming an ally you can contribute to a more inclusive and accessible society where disability is able to be wholeheartedly celebrated by everyone. #hr #inclusion #diversity #belonging #dei #accessibility #DisabilityPrideMonth

🎉🎉 Celebrating Disability Pride Month! 🎉🎉 We're proud to share what Disability Pride means to Sermet Baykaner, our Group Procurement Director. ⭐️I'm father to two amazing, identical twin, daughters, Madeline and Isabella, and husband to Emma (also awesome!). We live in Hampshire with a pair of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (Beanie and Rusty) so it's a busy home.   I started my career as an engineer and Supply Chain professional in manufacturing before moving to Cruise Lines and then here as Procurement Director.   ⭐️What brought you to Bourne? The culture! Initially I was intrigued by the fact that Bourne kept appearing in the Times Best Big Company to work for list year after year. As I started to meet team across the business it soon became obvious that this was a place that valued people above all. ⭐️Why are you passionate about Disability inclusion / Disability Pride? During Covid both my daughters were diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). At the time my understanding of Autism was almost nothing and, since then, I've worked hard to educate myself. I've learnt about the unique challenges and strengths this condition brings with it and it's certainly changed our lives. Every week I see opportunities for them to use their strengths to flourish but also unique challenges they have to overcome - I suspect that's true for all fathers and their children, it's just that we also have this "ASD" element in the mix.   ⭐️What barriers do you think we face in disability inclusion and in particular from your experience those who are neurodivergent? I think the biggest barrier today is simply broad awareness and understanding which would, inevitably, lead to a more inclusive environment and society. More than 15% of the UK population is estimated to be neurodivergent - that's 10 million people -yet we design our environments, our systems, our schools and workplaces and the way we treat each other according to very neurotypical preferences. That's not a surprise nor is it inherently "wrong" but it does mean we have a huge opportunity to improve the life of 10 million people across the UK simply by helping everyone to understand the rich variety and tapestry of ways in which different people experience the world.     ⭐️What do you think everyone can do to play their part in allyship for those with a disability and in particular neurodiversity? Be curious! If you're reading this you're already on the right track and next time there's an opportunity to learn more - whether that's a conversation with someone you meet, a video that pops up on your social media or anything else - grab it with both hands. #DisabilityPrideMonth #Inclusion #Neurodiversity #Awareness #Allyship #enablingstorytelling 👩👧👧🌈

NDIS Review Conference – Parliament House Canberra – Friday March 2024 This review comprehensively covered aspects from all 26 recommendations, providing a platform for in-depth exploration and dialogue on critical issues in the disability support system. The NDIS is a great scheme for people that are in need of support. As leaders in our community, we strive to improve our service deliver to those that need it most. It is imperative for people with disabilities to make decisions that affect their lives. People with lived experiences, carers and families need to be involved in the decision-making process. All the wonderful providers, disabled people, ministers, lived experienced people, carers and families that made the journey to this conference should be commended. This demonstrates the Passion and drive that we have for this Industry. If providers are ripping off participants – Then the model of the pricing arrangement has allowed them to do so. Let’s look at better managing this scheme by Listening to those that it serves. Just some of the Recommendations: Choice & Control – Participants to use their plan as it suits their lifestyle. Equitable budget to use it as they need. Currently the plans are restricted to certain areas of the plan (core supports, Capacity supports etc). Carer’s Support Portal- Carers also need access to supports. Just like participants have a portal, carers need a portal to access many supports (funding model). Extra funds from the NDIS to support carers as they support those that are most vulnerable. Disability Channel – Diversity and Inclusion T.V channel dedicated just to serving this target group cohort. Traineeships and apprenticeships – A dedicated program for people wanting to enter into this industry from school Provider Incentives- Extra Incentives (payment) for Positive Outcomes. Participants influence the drive and outcomes. There are no Incentives in place for any positive outcomes. Disability Rights Act: Research must be led by people with disabilities – where they are accountable. People with disabilities don’t just want to make recommendations, they want to make changes. During the inception, the implementation and monitoring.     Independent pricing Arrangement (IPA): Move away from one price groups Registered against Un-registered Providers- Currently there are no incentives for providers to become registered. The costs of been registered and the Audits that take place are a great disincentive to become registered. As many participants are moving to plan managed – providers don’t see the benefits of becoming registered. Un-registered providers- There are many un-registered providers that have excellent quality of services and have many years of experience within this target group Cohort. 

Today marks the beginning of UK Disability History Month, running to December 16th, focusing on Disability, Children, and Youth. The theme prompts a reconsideration of how institutions engage with disabled youth, urging the media to adopt more inclusive and non-stereotypical portrayals in collaboration with disabled young people. Growing up with a rare genetic condition within the South Asian community, where it's still often considered taboo, and attending a special needs primary school, my exposure to representations of disabled people in the media was limited to Children in Need. Unfortunately, these portrayals often painted the children as objects of pity and charity cases, contributing to an inaccurate societal view of disabled people, that is still alive and kicking today. The shift from limited representations to extremes like 'The Undateables' to the 2012 Paralympics was quite drastic. As a child, I also didn't have time to think about what my adult life would look like because every year, I was in a relentless cycle of breaking my legs (my bones break without any trauma), undergoing months of recovery and physio, and relearning how to walk—a pattern that persisted for years. After some life-changing surgery and medical treatments, by the age of 16, my fractures became less frequent, granting me a glimpse of life beyond school - home - and hospitals, and some newfound freedom. Yet, navigating adulthood was and still is a challenge. I found myself unprepared for the brutal realities that continue to create significant obstacles for disabled people, such as ensuring basic human rights are met. It feels like a never-ending surreal experience, almost like living in a parody. It's a heavy realisation when you come to grips with the fact that life might present more hurdles than you expected, and the support system is lacking. The moment you grasp that navigating through life's challenges could be tougher than imagined can be quite a shock and very isolating. It's disheartening when it feels like the world isn't tuned in to these difficulties or doesn't seem as concerned about making things easier for everyone, let alone your community. These experiences resonate with the essence of Disability History Month, urging us to reconsider societal perceptions and opportunities for disabled youth. I feel a sense of relief for enduring, but simultaneously feel a looming sense of dread, as if the barriers and bias will never end. Let's work together to ensure that it doesn't remain the reality.❤️ 📧 Contact: hello@shanidhanda.com 💌 Sign up for my newsletter for more insights: https://buff.ly/3Q05VG3 💰 I'm on a mission to empower disabled people to get their #FairDues https://bit.ly/fair-dues Image description: Shani, aged 7 years, a South Asian disabled girl, sitting in a wheelchair smiling at the camera. Wearing a white T-shirt and blue dungarees. #DisabilityHistoryMonth #RepresentationMatters

If you don't already do so, I recommend a follow and support the work of Dr Shani Dhanda FRSA. It's #DisabilityHistoryMonth, which is a useful opportunity to reflect on historic and current barriers for disabled people in our society- and then take that learning into Action, all year round. It's #inclusion for all, or it's not inclusion at all.

In 2019, I made a trip back home to Texas and stopped at Buc-ee's, the famous convenience store. I was trying to keep up with one of the children, and twisted my knee something awful. I made it home okay, but was told that I was going to be on crutches for the next week or so. As it happens, I was in the process of interviewing, and the first candidate that came in was a colleague in the disability community--someone who has a disability themselves. He took one look at me, leaning on my crutch, and sighed, "Everybody wants to get in on the act." So I tell this story to ask a question that gets asked all the time; is it a good idea to tell a recruiter if you have a disability? General thoughts follow: 1. Sometimes you have to. If you need an accommodation--let's just say relay or video interpreting for the phone screen--well, obviously, you don't have a choice. Asking for an accommodation in the hiring process also gives you a good idea about what the organization's attitude is going to be for accommodations in general. 2. It's always helpful to ask yourself first (this is for everyone, for every role) if you're qualified. If the honest answer to this is, "well, no," then it isn't going to matter whether you disclose or not. (Keep in mind that a recruiter might have a different idea than you do about what "qualified" means for a given job; I am not here telling you not to apply if you think there's a chance.) 3. Obviously you should disclose if you're applying within the nonprofit disability services and advocacy sphere. I've spent nearly my entire career there, and let's face it, there's advantages in those types of organizations if you have a disability. If that's the kind of work you want to do, and you're aligned with the mission, more power to you. But I don't think anyone should resign themselves to working for nonprofits if there are other opportunities out there. 4. The only situation where it really matters if you disclose or not is a) you don't know how the organization views people with disabilities b) you don't need an accommodation in the hiring process and c) you have some reason to think that your disability (whatever it is) is going to be a drawback in the hiring process. My general advice--your mileage may vary--is to disclose. The reason behind this is simple; I think you need to give people a chance. I think that most people are going to handle the disclosure with empathy or something like it. I like to think that very few people are going to react in a way that's dismissive or cruel. But I think that most people aren't worried about cruelty, necessarily. (I have been treated cruelly by recruiters, more than once, and it stings.) I think that people are more worried about being treated in a patronizing or paternalistic manner. If that's where you are--in a place where you absolutely want to be judged on your merits than on your disability--I think you're OK not disclosing. (Good luck either way.)

In our Disability Affirmative Therapy Workshops, we usually stay with the topic of language for quite some time. What is the correct way to address a disabled person? On the handful of occassions I have introduced myself as a disabled person, I have noticed the other person fall into the comfort of calling me 'differently abled' or 'specially abled' or whatever sounds soothing to them. It is comfortable to use these words, it certainly sounds much less harsh than 'disabled'. It softens the blow. It shields me from the reality that my body/mind cannot do certain things. Why do I have to be shielded from this, I wonder! What is this great tragedy that has befallen me, that cannot be spoken of? Who has a body that functions perfectly throughout their lives? Aren't we all temporarily able bodied? When you shy away from calling me disabled, maybe you try to spare me the shame. The shame of not being like other people, not as 'functional', not being as educated, not making as much money, not having as many friends. But why is that shame mine to bear, when our schools, workplaces, and communities have been specifically designed to exclude disabled people? What is this different ability that you speak of anyway? I write fairly well and if I sing I hit 50% of the notes. That's not a different ability, that's a human ability. I do not want anything more than you to recognise that I am human. I can do some things and I can't do others. I have needs, and I have a right to demand these needs be met. When you see that I am human, you will find dignity where you once saw shame. "If you would not call someone differently gendered, or differently coloured, then why differently abled?" ~~~~~~~ Tip for therapists: If you have a disabled client, always mirror their language and call them what they want to be called. If you're interested in disability, language and it's psychosocial implications, and how it will show up in the therapy room, please register for our Disability Affirmative Therapy Workshop. Batch 1 is happening on 10th-11th May, 5:30-7:30 pm. Here's the link: https://lnkd.in/gzEiYEy6 P.S. If you don't want to come to our workshop but have questions specifically about disability and language, please ask in the comments. I will answer :)

Disability pride Month - My Journey! I’m sharing my story in the hopes that other professionals, leaders and entrepreneurs may resonate with some of my journey and reflect on how they might lead with more compassion and understanding when managing disabilities, particularly hidden ones. Living with Crohn's disease for the past 30 years has been quite the journey, making me more resilient, adaptable, and open to learning more about myself, my limits and my capabilities. For me, managing a hidden disability such as Crohn's disease, along with more visible conditions like arthritis and fibromyalgia, has shaped my approach to work, life, and the vital support systems I rely on. I am totally transparent with my team about my health, my needs and my capabilities on a day to day basis. This is to enable them to understand my limits, but also to encourage them to share their own personal challenges with me. I firmly believe that an open and transparent workplace leads to increased productivity, improved retention and a wonderful work culture. Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel condition that falls under the umbrella of hidden disabilities. 5 years ago, I underwent surgery to fit an ileostomy, which was a significant step in my medical journey. Despite the physical changes, the invisible nature of this condition impacts my day to day life, both personally and professionally. In the professional world, hidden disabilities can be particularly challenging. Heres an example.... I use disabled toilet facilities as its easier to manage my ileostomy, not because of my joint conditions. On days when I need to use my walking stick for my arthritis, no-one bats an eyelid at me walking into a disabled toilet. But on days when my arthritis is good and I don't use a stick, I have been tutted at, eyes rolled at and even stopped to be questioned about why I'm using disabled facilities. 🙄 Societal bias towards visible disabilities is a real issue and highlights the need for greater awareness and understanding of hidden disabilities. As an independent woman, I'm happy to challenge people who treat me this way, however, for some, this fear of being misunderstood or facing stigma often keeps people from seeking the accommodations they need. Disability Pride Month is an opportunity to advocate for greater awareness, understanding, and inclusivity in all areas of life. By sharing our stories and experiences, we can encourage a more inclusive society that recognises and supports our unique and diverse needs. And when told "Your don't look disabled", my favourite response is "You don't look stupid but clearly looks can be deceiving"