From Shame to Pride
By Liel Bridgford [4 minutes read]
As a kid all I ever wanted to be seen as was ‘normal’. I carefully chose my clothes to hide my leg, I would always tuck my leg under or behind me. I was keenly and constantly aware of other people's gaze. At the slightest hint that someone was looking towards my leg or staring at the way I walked, I would avert my own gaze, trying to bury my shame.
More than three decades into living in a disabled body, I have now been proudly selected as an honoree for Diversability’s D-30 Disability Impact list! This feels like the perfect celebration of Disability Pride Month.
D-30 Disability Impact List Honoree - Liel Bridgford, Kultivate Founder and Director
Today I am prouder than ever to call myself a disabled person who looks straight into people’s eyes if they stare, talk about disabilities openly and dress to express my personality, uneven legs, feet and all.
Getting to this point was not easy, nor automatic. I was not raised with disability pride, nor did I come to know about it until well into adulthood. Grief, anger, sadness and frustrations were and still are a part of my life. Living in this world, particularly as a disabled person, is hard. What I have learnt over the years though, is how to live the most meaningful life I possibly can.
The disability community has taught me about acceptance. I do not accept things that we should and can change like inaccessibility, abuse, or neglect of disabled people.
But I now accept and do not fight with the fact that I was born different. That my leg has a few bones ‘missing’, that my ankle has zero movement, or that I will likely need orthopaedic, custom-made shoes for the rest of my life. I embrace these facts by practising disability acceptance daily. For me, this means wearing shorts that reveal my legs, using my walking stick, telling randoms at the playground that I am disabled, and more.
By the way, we have recently created an FAQ page to answer your most common questions about disability, mental health and more. Disability acceptance is a common theme so check out the new videos HERE to learn more.
I now have dedicated my life’s mission to improving the lives of disabled people. This International recognition of The D-30 Disability Impact List for disabled leaders feels like a huge log onto my motivational fire to make disabled lives better. I plan to continue working tirelessly to improve disabled lives, and hope to leave this world more equitable, accessible, safe and wonderful, especially for multiply marginalised disabled people.
The D-30 list this year is filled with determined, creative, courageous and passionate people including Chloé Hayden and Sonny Jane Wise who I am a huge fan of.
Thank you to those who nominated me, and everyone supporting me, my work and the disability community at large.
Little Liel would not have believed that as an adult I’ll be so loud & proud about being disabled, and be fortunate enough to support other disabled folks daily.
To learn more about the list and read about the other honorees visit: https://mydiversability.com/2023-d30-honorees
Happy Disability Pride Month!
Liel Bridgford
Psychologist, Writer, Educator
Kultivate Founder and Director
