I am a woman of colour and am able-bodied. While I have experienced/ understand marginalisation faced by a POC, I am aware of my able-bodied privilege.
I am aware of the lack of representation/ misrepresentation of Black and people of colour – whether it be in the media or in an institution. Similarly, I was aware that this representation and diversity lacks in the disabled community too. However, Vilissa’s words in the interview resonated with me deeply.
Reading this article, I reflected back on my early years growing up in Nepal – how disability and mental illness is stigmatised, often leading to a shame culture. This enforced suffering in silence – rather than opening conversation about these needed, real subjects, the society’s belief/ shame culture kept on excluding and further stigmatised any forms of disability and mental illness (which sort of became a ‘hushed’ taboo).
There was a lack of education when it came to disability. I wasn’t aware of any empowering representation.
Disability was somehow portrayed as sympathy, not empathy.
With how Vilissa speaks about the inclusion of disabled voices, I understand the importance of ‘who is telling the story‘. This is so that the authentic voices are not being lost, that we are not further erasing and marginalising. The lack of [correct] representation practices exclusion, and how that affects one’s connection with themselves. I myself understand that part of exclusion – how growing up as a woman of colour felt in the UK – the isolation and lost sense of belonging.
“…the lack of representation hinders our abilities to feel like we belong, to feel like our lives and our stories are important. We feel isolated and outcast when you don’t see people who look like you, not just racially but disability-wise.” (Thompson, 2006)
Vilissa speaks about allies, I agree that in order completely agree to become one, we must first consider our privileges. When amplifying voices of the underrepresented community, we must recognise the importance of their experiences/ voices. Also questioning who is telling the story. We must consider that we are not taking/ overpowering any spaces/ voices.
In a class setting, this piece of resource can be shared amongst the students as I would want the students to reflect on their own positionality and raise awareness. This can open up a meaningful conversation around representation and the importance of inclusion, and also encourages the practise of thoughtfulness.