Hello! This is Jasper Cleland. We are at the end of July, which was Disability Pride Month. On Tuesday July 8th, I went to St Albans Community Centre for the first raising of a disability pride flag to ever happen in Victoria! The event was organised by our neighbours here in Ross House, DRC (Disability Rights and Culture). Around 50 people attended the event, which included some short but beautiful presentations where people talked about what disability pride meant to them. I want to share the two highlights that have stayed in my mind since the event.
One presenter talked about feeling like they were a problem and needed to hide, but then finding community and not needing to hide any more. This was a strong reminder to me of the sense of empowerment that can come from connection with community.
Another presenter talked about how most people think of pride as parties and festivals, acknowledging that celebration is great, but that disability pride grows from our daily fighting for our rights. For me, it felt good to be reminded of this.
I felt a deep connection between both of these highlights and my reasons for being part of DBV. It’s a place where I can support a safe space for community to come together, and it’s a place where we can stand together to fight about our rights in the ways that work for each of us, and also celebrate what we do.
Before I left the event, I asked my commguide to take a photo of me standing at the flag pole, which I am sharing here with a fabulous description that Ntennis provided when I set a little challenge for the sighted staff in the office to give their best description of the photo.
Image description:
Jasper is standing outdoors, leaning on a pole that is flying a disability pride flag. Jasper is holding a rainbow-coloured cane in one hand and his other hand is raised in a fist defiantly.