You may remember in July last year I was harassed by a taxi driver - he said the skin and cream on my face would ruin his car.I wrote my complaint on my blog, and formally too. I took this case to the Human Rights Commission, the Victorian Taxi Commission and 13Cabs. One of the … [Read more...]
Disability has meant finding my tribe.
While disability comes in different forms, I have found there's a collective sense of empathy in the disability community. Putting my condition in a box - ticking that box 'yes I have a disability' - has been more empowering than I imagined it could be. I never identified … [Read more...]
On ‘normal’ and cures and pride.
Sometimes people compliment me when my skin looks paler than usual. It's as though I'm five shades closer to a white complexion. (Ichthyosis-less, my South African heritage would probably mean that I'd have pale brown skin.) What they're not seeing (or feeling) is the pain on … [Read more...]
A little taxi driver update and a request.
One of the outcomes I requested after being verbally abused in a taxi in July was that all drivers receive ongoing disability awareness training. I don't want them to receive training on entering employment, but at regular intervals, and I'd also like all offending drivers to … [Read more...]
One conversation creates change. Another post on Embarrassing Bodies.
Embarrassing Bodies was on the TV last night. I didn't watch it, a friend texted me to tell me it was on. I replied that I think the title is offensive, the content's exploitative and the viewers' reactions are callous, but thanks for thinking of me. I wrote about how I feel … [Read more...]