Raising her proud: a young mum's take on disability pride
Louise Weekley shares what raising her daughter has taught her about the importance of disability pride and embracing differences.
Why is disability pride important to me? The answer is simple: I never want my daughter to feel like she’s less because she doesn’t fit the norm. Growing up with a disability, I felt less because I didn’t look like my peers. My struggles were different and, as I got older and interacted with society, that difference really hit me hard. Even now, as a parent, I have had to face people seeing me as less than them just because of my disability. I should never feel ashamed or less because of my disability.
It wasn’t until I became a mum that I realised how much value I could provide to my daughter. One of the big ones is using Auslan to communicate, which I did from an early age as someone with a speech impairment. I knew from the start that it was important for me to be able to use Auslan with my kids.
My daughter is now 16 months old and has started using sign alongside her verbal communication, enabling her to still communicate with us if her verbal expression isn’t working. Some people have told me this will hinder her verbal skills, but I say it will enable her to broaden her understanding of communication and hopefully go into adulthood continuing to use Auslan, making the barrier that Auslan users face that little bit smaller.
Showing my disability pride is important for how I raise my daughter because if I can teach her that it is okay to be different, it might create a ripple effect around her.
One day when she’s at school and one of her classmates asks “why does your mum talk weird?”, she’ll have no shame in educating her peers about disability. Showing my pride not only helps me but could help create a better and more inclusive society for all people with disability that come after.
I have no idea what my daughter’s future holds but I know she will face discrimination because she has two mums, including one with disability. By showing that I’m proud of who I am, I hope she will never feel ashamed for factors beyond her control. This is why disability pride is important to me. It doesn’t just affect me, but the world around me – the same world I want my daughter to be a part of.
About the author:
Louise is currently studying a bachelor of disability and developmental education. She is a disability support worker and passionate about working in the field. Louise identifies as part of the LGBTQIA+ community and is passionate about sharing her journey as a young mum, wife, and human living with a disability.
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