At work these days I live and breathe all things disability. Disability inclusion is now a core part of our business – it influences our sponsorship strategy, marketing activations, leadership conference agendas and customer journey design, to name just a few. 3 years into our 5 year sustainability strategy, I have learnt that disability is still just as awkward, complex and, on many occasions I find myself having a lengthy conversation on what we mean by disability.
Truth be told It was only a couple of months ago that I had a lightbulb moment on what disability means to me. I thought I’d share my story – I’ve learnt that change only happens when we stop sidestepping disability and have confident conversations.
For four years of my life, 11 years ago, I was locked in my own body facing barriers day in day out. I had a condition called Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - I’d describe it as your body shutting down. I had to drive everywhere and some days it was too tricky to get out of bed. There was even the day when three friends had to physically carry me to take my final exams.
For those years of my life, my energy was spent getting through one day after the other. And no day was predictable. Yes I had dreams, but I soon learnt to switch them off for need of focusing on the day to day.
No amount of hospital visits and tests, endless tests, makes up for the inconsistency of living with a condition. It’s only now can I begin to realise the impact this condition had not just one me but more importantly on my friends and family.
And when it came to leaving uni and getting a job, despite knowing exactly what I wanted my career to be in - I’m one of those lucky people that always knew I wanted to work in Corporate Responsibility - I took an admin role because it wouldn’t matter if I had to chuck it in.
At the time I never considered myself to be disabled. In fact the word never even popped into my head. I had all the adjustments under the sun - parking badge, medical exemption certificate, sat my exams in a separate room. You name it I tried it.
My body slowly corrected itself over time but for others this isn’t the case. We’re all humans and I learnt there and then never to take my health for granted and to this day I have to remember to pace myself. Today only 17% of disabled people are born with a disability which means that 83% of us will acquire one in our lifetime. Disabilities, like mine was, can be temporary and are invisible. Disability touches us all.
What does disability mean to you?
Comments