Why doing our bit to highlight diversity is a good thing.

Vibrant orange wall adorned with a sleek speaker perched on its summit. — Disability advocacy can be achieved in many ways

I was diagnosed with Adult Onset Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy in my early 40’s. Until then I had been in the ~82% of non-disabled Australians and had no direct contact with anyone who was physically challenged by the environment around us.

In the initial few years succeeding my diagnosis I was able to conduct my life pretty much as I had before. I felt that I was still ‘normal’ and attempted to ignore the ever creeping decline in my abilities.

Eventually, I realised that I wasn’t sharing everyday experiences in the same way as I used to with my friends and family. Hobbies and interests such as photography, gardening, baking and sewing became less autonomous and spontaneous and more reliant on assistance from others. Conversations regarding new methods in cooking became increasingly irrelevant. Despite equipment adaptations including a lighter camera, photography and all its artistic embodiments was not available without significant compromise, including having another person programming the settings and shooting. Sewing and quilting have followed a very similar path for me. Socialising involves considerations regarding toileting, resting beforehand, ensuring accessibility and not feeling self-conscious having your food cut up for you - and significantly adapted ( let’s say improved) dance moves.

This new way of living was new to not only me but my friends and family who have supported and assisted me in many ways. It also became somewhat mentally isolating, and no one quite gets it like a like-minded community of others going through similar experience’s. So I began seeking information through social media and other online resources.

Through the inter-webs, we bond, cry, complain and boost each other. And we also find out about research and opportunities through awareness campaigns to advance the profile and recognition of LGMD to the wider general public.

Nevertheless, I was unenthusiastic to be involved in such campaigns, I was doing my quiet form of self-advocacy through blogging. This in itself was a big leap of faith that I was adding value somewhere while cathartically and, at times mortifyingly telling my LGMD story online to the global public. Rolling through the years I have, through Instagram particularly, become part of an ever-growing, gigantic community of like-minded advocates all making their valuable presences felt in numerous ways.

Genuinely impressive LGMD and disability advocacy is occurring everywhere despite, and certainly because of, oppression, injustice, and prejudice. Pushing for respect, understanding, equality, and recognition in many ways; creating and selling T-shirts with ironic memes, public speaking, educating schools and the general community, or flooding Instagram with beautiful images of non-normative bodies of those who deserve to be able to contribute to, and enjoy this world. I am in awe of such dogged and often selfless determination by hundreds, if not thousands of netizens (citizens of the net) to have the voice of their community acknowledged on the grand world stage.

Advocacy educates. Advocacy makes us think beyond ourselves, and beyond the accepted way that our world has been designed to cater for fully functioning bodies. Advocacy gives bigoted and ableist jokes and memes a human identity. Advocacy eliminates shame – in having physical and mental impairment in a world ill-equipped to accommodate. Advocacy creates respect for difference and humility that none of us is immune to genetic mutations, accidents or failing organs. Advocacy can create change. Advocacy is vital for a flourishing, diverse society.

What I have slowly learnt is that advocacy is not just joining campaigns that raise funds for services and research. Campaigns can simply be to raise the profile of a particular element that requires broader recognition for all the reasons above – and maybe that is enough. Because any contribution made to the whirling sands of actions and conversations in your advocacy space is another important particle. Contrary to my initial reservations on the effectiveness of awareness days or months, designed mugs or Facebook profile frames, I’m a convert to simply lifting the LGMD profile.

In a globally connected world full of the clamour of voices I am happy to be part of the growing contributions of many to the societal recognition and understanding of Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy and disability. And I hope that in your way you can be too, regardless of your abilities.

Because, as the LGMD-info.org global motto goes, together, we are stronger.

Yours in inclusion,