Opinion
By Bill Gamack , CEO , EPIC Assist
DON ’ T GET MAD , GET MOVING
Gold Coast fitness guru Ashy Bines recently made headlines when she parked her car in a disability parking spot , later defending the move as acceptable because , ‘ her gym has no members with disability .’
After a moment of or something that can affect them in disappointment , I different ways at different times . considered Ms Bines ’
Saying ‘ no one here has a statement and realised she is by disability ’ is particularly problematic , no means alone in her assumptions especially as many people with around disability . The reality is , many invisible disabilities choose not to people still believe if a disability isn ’ t disclose for fear of becoming the visible and obvious to the passer-by object of damaging stereotypes . in the street , it doesn ’ t exist . And
Ms Bines has a significant that ’ s a problem . public platform for disseminating
I don ’ t believe there was any illintent behind Ms Bines ’ comments , individuals in the media spotlight . And
her messages , as do many other
but there is certainly an opportunity the issue is , when influential people for her words to act as a catalyst for make uninformed assumptions and conversation , so we may all become comments , people listen . more educated and informed .
We live in a time when words
The truth is , disabilities can be and phrases like ‘ wheelchair-bound ’, both visible and invisible . Disabilities ‘ suffering from ’ and ‘ victim of ’ are are not black and white ; even people still commonplace in the media . with the same disability can have That needs to stop , now . These vastly different experiences . words serve to perpetuate the A disability can be something that narrative that people with disability a person lives with all day every day , should be pitied . It says people with
disability are always going to be at a disadvantage , never able to achieve as highly as others . And that ’ s just not true .
It ’ s up to everyone to educate themselves , and make sure they are part of moving society forward and levelling the playing field for people with disability . There is no shortage of resources and voices out there that will happily help you on this quest .
I ’ ve seen a lot of blame and shame in this whole ‘ Ashy Bines ’ saga , and I do understand where people are coming from . But rather than getting mad , let ’ s get moving . Let ’ s get moving on an educational journey to demonstrate that disability comes in many forms . And most importantly , demonstrating that disability does not mean ‘ less ’, it just means different . And different is good .
Bill Gamack has been CEO of disability employment not-for-profit EPIC Assist for four years . Bill has family experience with disability , and understands the challenges faced by people and families in seeking the services needed to achieve success .
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