Voilà, the third and final illustration I created for Anna Maria Joseph’s article for Women Enabled International and Revival Disability India, and this time I added a little animation (on my Instagram reels because I'm still learning how to use technology) to help make a spark.
COP27 is underway.
We’re still a world where certain groups decide who is allowed to have a voice based on how they look and present, as well as who is allowed to self-identify as disabled.
Here’s a challenge, if the idea of self-identification feels misaligned: come from a place of compassion for yourself first, and then compassion for the other.
I say this without malice or blame, it’s not easy to accept someone else’s perception of themselves if you are not yourself comfortable with who you are, who you believe deserves help and support, who deserves credit, and who deserves to be reckoned with.
I am disabled, I admit it took time (years) to adjust in order to begin to accept, but I’ve managed to come to this peace within myself because of the light of others shining bright and strong.
Being disabled is not less, and does not mean less deserving. Being disabled is not voiceless, if anything it is a powerful voice that illuminates within each of us the parts that need to be held with greater compassion.
Do you have the strength of compassion to help shine a light on Disabled Climate Activism?
Read Anna’s article to understand more about the intersection of disability and climate activism—the link here.