I am a strong, proud Disabled Woman! ✨
Earlier in my disability journey I didn’t have the disabled friends & role models that I have today. I listened when people told me to ‘put your aid away for the picture’, that ableism sunk deep into my soul & became internalised meaning that I have photos from some of the most important days of my life which don’t include the mobility aids that I wouldn’t have been able to get to that point without. And that makes me sad. It makes me sad that some people could never see how important my aids are to me, how much freedom they give me and how much they allow me to do. And it makes me sad that I didn’t have the confidence at the time to ignore what others might think & use and show off what helps me. My disability affects every aspect of my life, and although there is a lot more to me than my disability, it’s a really big part of who I am.
On #InternationalWheelchairDay in March I noticed how few professional photos I had where I was using my wheelchair despite the fact I have used a wheelchair on & off, in some form or another since 2017. This is mainly due to lack of accessibility and me struggling to express my access needs.
So I shared over @jenni.models that I’d love to do a shoot celebrating my Wheelchairs & the freedom they give me and the incredible @rynneleolai jumped at the idea. And there really was no better way to celebrate disability pride month than by kicking it off with this shoot.
I am so proud of these shots & I cannot wait to share more from the shoot with you. I hope other young wheelchair users see these & find the confidence & beauty in their aids to show their aids & themselves off with power & pride. I also hope that the more images like this that are created and the more disability representation we see in the world the more accepting & accessible the world will become!
