Written by Jonathan Shar – PDA Treasurer/NSW Director
I don’t know about you but if we are to take anything positive out of the whole COVID-19 situation, it is through adversity I feel like using platforms like Zoom, we have become a more cohesive and united community.
Whether it be our PDA Social Hours (register at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMvdeCvqT0iGNIHANOwSpCJDs6Yg_iN8tAo) or doing therapies using Telehealth, we should be proud of the sense of belonging and community we are creating and hope to maintain when life returns to normal (hopefully sooner than we think).
For me as someone who from time to time has struggled with social isolation and longed to be a part of a community, when I do login to a Zoom chat or YouTube live stream I feel like I’ve almost come home because being around people that understand the challenges and triumphs of disability life is healing.
I guess in saying that, my main concern is how can we maintain this into the future. Will and should technology play a bigger role in how we include and embrace people with physical disabilities?
One thing I will be pushing for is for all organisations who work in the disability space to work more collaboratively, I personally don”t care whether you’re a peak body, service provider or community group, we need to work together regardless of how or who funds us.
All that really drives us is better outcomes for the members and people we represent because without them we are nothing. Nothing about us without us may be one of the most overused quotes in the disability rights movement but during these times I feel as though it has taken on a new meaning.
In the era of #BlackLivesMatter, #MeToo and the violence, abuse and neglect being uncovered by the Disability Royal Commission, one could assume the collective trauma from all three would foster divisions, however the opposite is true.
It is a shame that it took the appalling abuse and callous neglect of Ann-Marie Smith to unite our community in a call to action, the point I am trying to make is let’s channel all of this frustration into something positive, instead of stoking divisions, let’s make this an opportunity to strengthen disability rights and to politicians with a disability, we want more than talk, we want action and tangible reform that will actually be implemented.
If you feel as frustrated and passionate about this issue, use social media to start a conversation, talk to leaders of disability services and government agencies – but if you get a negative answer don’t get demoralised.
At PDA we are here for you, remember to join us for Social Hour and even become a member.
