Beverly Louis’ Post

Continuing our Patchworker Spotlight Series, we recently caught up with the one and only Celia Chartres-Aris (née Hensman) to learn more about her story and the incredible work that she does. A multi-award-winning disabled founder & investor, and all-around changemaker, Celia spoke with us about her advocacy work, experiences and drive to achieve changes in policy for disabled people across the UK and beyond. Want to read the full story? Check out the full blog by visiting the link in the comments! #PatchworkerSpotlight #Inclusion #Accessibility #DisabilityAwareness Access2Funding Unlearning Ableism Image Descriptions: Slide 1: Purple background with stars. This background repeats throughout. A photo of Celia is displayed in the centre. Text reads: ‘Patchworker Spotlight! Celia Chartres-Aris. Slide 2: Heading text reads ‘Celia Chartres-Aris’. The text below reads ‘Celia is a multi-award-winning disabled founder, investor, campaigner & lobbyist, and policy & legal expert. A social entrepreneur, disability advocate and the founder of some incredible disability inclusion organisations, Celia works internationally and across sectors to push for change around disability equality, accessibility, and inclusion. We asked Celia a few questions to find out more about what drives her work and the things she’s learnt throughout her journey…’ In the bottom right corner is an image of Celia in a radio booth. Slide 3: Heading text reads ‘Can you tell us about yourself?’. Paragraph text reads ‘Born with multiple disabilities as a result of a rare and terminal genetic condition, Loeys-Dietz Syndrome, I live every day with multiple organ failure and have never known my life without disability. Taking pride in my disabled identity, I work hard to break down systemic ableism, discrimination and archaic stereotypes about the talents, potential and ability of disabled people.’ In the bottom corner is an image of Celia smiling at the camera. Slide 4: Heading text reads ‘What inspired you to start doing the work that you currently do?’. Under this, the text reads ‘Because of my own experiences of being discriminated against, constantly doubted and thought less of, since I was young I’ve always had a deep passion for law, politics & policy and a desire to change the mechanisms that govern our daily lives. I’m inspired by the notion of embedding the campaigns we’re all working so hard to achieve into policy so that no matter what, disabled people are protected from ableism. To me, policy is the key to change - we have to improve our laws of equity and inclusion to make sustained and long-term change.’ In the bottom right corner is an illustration of shooting starts flying over the Houses of Parliament. The remaining image descriptions will be posted in the comments due to the caption character limit.

Meet the Team Cat Robson Co-Founder I am a proud mother, wife, and self-proclaimed tech enthusiast. Beyond these roles, I embrace my identity as a mixed-race, neurodivergent woman navigating life alongside chronic conditions. This unique intersectionality has driven me to develop groundbreaking and thought-provoking training at Valued Voices, with the aim of bringing about sustainable change. For a long time, I grappled with the challenges posed by my protected characteristics, experiencing ableism and racism—often met with denial of these identities. I mistakenly believed that the fault lay with me for not conforming to societal expectations of how I should look and behave. However, I came to realize that these experiences were indicative of broader societal issues, reflecting how the disability rights movement is perceived. I noticed a one-dimensional portrayal of disability discussions, often detached from the communities it directly affects. This detachment led to the loss or distortion of true voices, making nuanced conversations about intersectional identities like mine scarce. I began to understand that issues around segregation, privilege, social mobility, and the erasure of history, commonly associated with racial movements, also affect the disability community. However, these conversations are seldom had or reported on. With Valued Voices, I strive to initiate those nuanced conversations because, without them, true understanding of the community and progress within the movement are hindered. This realization forms the foundation of Valued Voices' mission in inclusion training. We aim to foster a collaborative approach, different from traditional disability inclusion training that often focuses on changing the disabled individual or sidelines the community as mere side characters in their story or excludes them completely. Naturally, I began to find this insulting as a member of the community and frustrated seeing this happening as I feel it's hindering forward-thinking organizations who wish to include my community and negatively impacting the progress of the disability civil rights movement. Founding Valued Voices is my answer to solving exclusionary inclusion training practices that impact my community. #DisabilityTraining #InclusionTraining #AccessibilityMatters #EmpowerThroughTraining #DiversityandInclusion #DisabilityAwareness #InclusiveWorkplaces #EmpowerWithUnderstanding #AccessibleLearning #TrainingForAll #InclusionRevolution #DisabilityEducation #BreakingBarriers #EmpowerAbilities #inclusiveleadership

It's #WomensHistoryMonth, and amidst the celebration it's imperative to highlight the often overlooked contributions of Disabled Women. Let's begin by acknowledging the remarkable Judith Heumann. Currently, there's a flurry of activity within the disability community: - Federal and airline recognition of the urgent need to revamp hazardous air transportation practices for wheelchair users. - Prominent figures in digital accessibility and UX touting AI as a "solution for" accessibility barriers. - The concerning dismantling of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs, which, contrary to misconception, should encompass disability as a protected group alongside race and other identities. There's lots to say on each topic, but it's essential to first recognize that discussions about inclusion would scarcely include disability if our perceptions had remained of those prior to the late 1950s. However, a pivotal moment occurred when a group of disabled youth convened at a summer camp against the backdrop of the Civil Rights movement. They collectively rejected the "Medical Model of Disability", which bred shame and institutionalization, sparking what would become the Disability Rights movement in the U.S. Landmark milestones were achieved and Ms. Heumann was at the forefront of many of them, but she was also careful to always remind us there's still much more to be done. Ms. Heumann's memoir (https://judithheumann.com), the impactful movie "Crip Camp" (https://lnkd.in/gHTntpnR) and her thought-provoking TEDx talk (https://lnkd.in/g-JjpQTQ) are essential viewing. They challenge conventional mindsets, reaffirm what truly matters, and serve as poignant reminders of the ongoing struggle for equality and inclusion. I encourage you to know about this phenomenal woman and continue to honor her legacy in what you do. #DisabilityInclusion #Accessibility #AccessibilityMatters

As a woman with a disability and an entrepreneur, I recently had the privilege of assessing a pitching competition featuring ventures in the disability space. Many ideas were presented, and while some garnered enthusiastic responses from able-bodied individuals, they left me feeling uncomfortable. Several of these ventures focused exclusively on employing people with disabilities, which raised significant concerns for me: 1. Advocating Exclusion: By creating separate environments solely for disabled individuals, these ventures unintentionally promote exclusion rather than inclusion. True inclusion means integrating disabled people into mainstream workplaces where they work alongside their able-bodied peers. 2. Inspiration Porn: The applause and admiration often come from a place of sympathy rather than genuine support for equality. This "inspiration porn," as the late disability rights activist Stella Young called it, objectifies people with disabilities, using their stories to make able-bodied individuals feel good rather than addressing the real issues of inclusion and accessibility. 3. Paternalistic Behavior: Such ventures can inadvertently adopt a paternalistic approach, treating disabled individuals as needing special care rather than empowering them as equals. This undermines the dignity and autonomy of disabled people, reinforcing negative stereotypes instead of breaking them down. From an able-bodied perspective, these initiatives might seem like wonderful, altruistic efforts. It’s not easy to understand this feeling, and people who undergo this experience will know better and can tell you more. It’s hard to see that what might be perceived as empowerment and support often comes from a place of sympathy and paternalistic attitudes, rather than fostering real equality and integration. Even the PwDs employed there may not know how such opportunities come at a cost of their dignity. They are so deprived that they accept such charity with gratitude without realising that they have been objectified. This is my personal take, and I believe it's crucial to shift our focus towards creating inclusive environments where people with disabilities can thrive alongside everyone else. Let's aim for genuine equality and integration, where disabled individuals are seen and treated as equals in every aspect of life. It took immense struggle and effort for me to transition from a potential beneficiary to a formidable social entrepreneur. It was only possible because I got an opportunity to be included as an equal. #Inclusion #Equality #DisabilityRights #Entrepreneurship

#ThankYou, Marisa, for this informative post! Do you have any examples you might add?

🌟 Celebrating #DisabilityPrideMonth in July and marking the 34th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) today! At the HLPF, I proudly wore select colors each day for Women's Major Group’s #ColorCampaign and its #feminist demands. On the day I wore purple to support investment in women’s rights and gender equality everywhere, it took on a second meaning: purple is also the color to raise awareness about about fibromyalgia and chronic migraines, as well as other invisible disabilities. As a neurodivergent individual who has lived with numerous invisible illnesses since childhood (and was later diagnosed with learning disabilities as an adult), I use my platform to shed light on these often-overlooked conditions. Even when not directly working on disability rights and inclusion, I wear my Hidden Disabilities Sunflower 💜 lanyard daily and intentionally display it at high-level events to raise awareness about its intersectionality and to show my solidarity with disabled individuals around the world. Another HLPF delegate confronted me for wearing the Sunflower lanyard and berated me for appropriating the symbol without understanding its meaning, claiming that only elderly people use it. This encounter underscores the need for greater awareness and understanding: invisible disabilities don't have an age limit, and not all disabilities are visible. Let's continue to educate and advocate for a more inclusive world. 💜🎗️💜 United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs United Nations Human Rights United Nations Youth Office Major Group for Children and Youth UN Women UN Women USA Los Angeles UN Women UK U.S. Department of State International Disability Alliance Women Enabled International My Life My Choice Hidden Disabilities Sunflower 🌻🇺🇸🇨🇦 - North America #invisibledisabilities #ChronicPainDisorders #FibromyalgiaAwareness #ChronicMigraineAwareness #neurodiversity #adhd #spoonies #MentalHealthAwareness #InclusionMatters #hlpf

"My years of work improving diversity and representation in disability spaces, making our world more accessible and less ableist, have been mainly out of survival.” In my recent interview with Enable Magazine, if there's one takeaway, I want it to be this. ☝🏽 Imagine being part of a community where the representation of your intersecting identities has been ignored your entire life, leading to heightened experiences of discrimination and erasure. That's my reality. Despite the existence of significant movements, pledges, programs, and dedicated budgets, echoing the mantra "nothing about us, without us," the status quo persists. Imagine the frustration of witnessing these efforts yet seeing minimal change and still being over-excluded. That's my reality. I've observed and been told by my disabled peers that differences like race hold little significance in the context of disability. This viewpoint often comes from individuals who are white or present as such. The obstacle presented by this viewpoint is significant, and it leaves me grappling with where to even start in confronting these oversimplifications. Honestly, it's both exhausting and disheartening, especially considering that within the disability community, we're actively pushing for the acknowledgement and fulfilment of our basic rights. Shouldn't we, at the very least, be doing that for each other? I genuinely would rather not invest my time discussing this, but as each new microaggression, all-white disabled panel, article, TV program, ad campaign, and front cover emerges, the possibility of meaningful change appears remote. If I choose to stay silent, and people won't proactively educate themselves, the unfortunate reality is that nothing will ever change, inclusion remains tokenistic and the dominance of white supremacy will persist. Before I dedicate more time to this subject and find myself further disheartened, I'm curious – who would be keen on participating in an online session? The focus: learning how to be a supportive ally to disabled people from the global majority. If you're interested, drop me a 🌍 emoji or comment. Thanks! https://buff.ly/3Ol2Yy6 #RepresentationMatters #EndAbleism #Intersectionality

Uniting our Efforts in the Fight Against Ableism, Part 6 We cannot win the fight against ableism when there are divisions and rivalries amongst people with disabilities. The earlier parts of this series looked at how society deems certain people worthy of advocacy, favouring those that are presentable and relatable rather than everyday people. However, real change affects everyday people far more than the athletes. If we’re to see real progress in empowering people with disabilities, we must recognise… 🤗Varying Experiences and the Importance of Allyship🤗 I will always be passionate about advocating for people with disabilities – acquired or congenital. I will celebrate the achievement of others whether on the sporting field or in academia or as authors or as advocates. I will advocate for allies to support an end of ableism. I’m nearly 70 and I really don’t need to work, but I find work stimulating, enjoyable and gives me a sense of purpose when I am able to empower others. There’s still so much work to do to end ableism and provide a better life for all of us. Ableism remains a blight that all of us face, but part of defeating it comes through allyship. Having a disability has given me a clearer picture of what it’s like to live on society’s outskirts, which is why I’m an ally to First Nations People, refugees, the LGBTQI+ community, and to people of colour. We’re all fighting to be heard, and this is why we should support one another rather than fight against others ourselves. But we must also amplify all voices, not just the ones that society deems acceptable. If our various communities can put aside differences and approach each struggle with empathy, we could be unstoppable in bringing about equality and compassion. As Martin Luther King put it – “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”. I was seen as the acceptable face of disability when I was a child, and still am now. This must end. We should all be accepted. #Allyship #Empowerment #Inclusion Visual depiction: An image of me when I was a child, sitting on a chair and holding the steering wheel of a boat, smiling at the camera.

It is crucial for non-disabled individuals to recognize the importance of allyship for disabled people. By supporting and advocating for the rights and needs of the disabled community, we can collectively break down barriers and create a more accessible world for everyone. Here are some key ways to be an effective ally: -Educate Yourself: Start by gaining a better understanding of disability rights, accessibility, and the experiences of disabled people. Knowledge is the first step towards empathy and informed allyship. -Show empathy: Disabled people can choose to disclose their disability journey with you and this may leave them feeling vulnerable, make sure you’re empathetic toward their struggles and not dismissive. -Listen and Amplify: Actively listen to disabled individuals and their lived experiences. Encourage them to participate in discussions and the decision-making processes. -Challenge Stereotypes and Stigmas: Foster a culture of respect and equality within your professional and personal networks. -Advocate for Accessibility: Encourage your workplace, events, and public spaces to become more inclusive by implementing accessibility features such as ramps, Braille signage and using captioning. -Confront Ableism: Actively calling people out when they make ableist comments is a way of standing up for the disabled community and showing that you stand by them. Allyship is an ongoing journey.Engage with disabled-led organisations and initiatives to deepen your understanding and expand your network. Purple Tuesday wants to build a world where disabled people can fully participate, thrive, and contribute their unique talents. By becoming allies for disabled communities, we can create a more inclusive and accessible society for everyone. #DisabilityRights #InclusionMatters #Allyship #DiversityandInclusion #Equality #Disability #Inclusion #Accessibility

The road to ADA. The road to ADA has been paved with the bravery and determination of countless advocates. Today, as we celebrate the anniversary of the ADA's passage, let us remember the powerful legacy of these individuals.  Most of us are familiar with the “Capitol Crawl” 1990, which was a critical event leading to the passage of the ADA. Fewer people know about the federal building sit-in thirteen years earlier. In 1977, nearly 150 people with disabilities streamed into the Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW) Federal Building in San Francisco. They climbed to the fourth floor where the HEW regional offices were located, sparked by the government's failure to implement Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. This section had not been fully enforced, leaving people with disabilities without the necessary accommodations and access to public services, largely due to businesses and organizations lobbying against it. The protesters occupied the building for 25 days and refused to leave until their demands were met, even when threatened with arrest and eviction. Government officials tried to remove the activists by cutting phone lines and denying them food, water, medicine, and more. Yet, the disabled protesters persisted, working closely with a wide range of supportive organizations and individuals, including labor unions, religious groups, civil rights activists. This sit-in stands as a critical moment for cross-movement organizing, showcasing the power of solidarity. It also serves as a powerful reminder that disability rights are not merely the rights of a specific group but are fundamentally linked to the rights of all individuals. I am writing this post to highlight the bravery and determination of the individuals who participated in the sit-in. Their courage and perseverance were instrumental in the fight for disability rights and have set a powerful example for future generations. As we reflect on these historic events, we must ask ourselves: Is this what it will take to ensure that the rights of people with disabilities are fully recognized and protected? Are we prepared to stand with the same resolve and solidarity to continue the fight for equality and inclusion? Together, let's honor the spirit of these courageous activists and recommit to building a society where everyone can thrive. #ADA #DisabilityRights #Inclusion #Equality #Advocacy #CrossMovementSolidarity