Make the most of the online disability community

[4 minutes read]

A few of my clients recently tolds me about the negative experiences they had with other disabled people, mostly online. The online space is filled with wonderful things and people, but it is also, just like our real world, filled with ableism, trauma and internalised ableism.

My personal experience with the disability community has been dotted with wonderful moments of joy, acceptance, understanding, camaraderie, validation, and bonding, while sprinkled with the exposure to internalised ableism, trauma dumping, inspiration porn, anger, and even bullying.

It took me a few years to learn how to manage the complexity of the online disability space. I am still learning of course, especially within the rapidly changing online world, yet the following tips can be useful as a guide for any online space you are in or considering joining.

Spot the ableism – before or upon joining an online space or group, spend some time observing the content others are creating or sharing. Ableism without warning, or internalised ableism that goes unacknowledged, are red flags. For instance, I recommend staying away from a group filled with people sharing their grief about their children being disabled.

Search for balance – online (just like physical) spaces for disabled people should have some balance between the hard stuff like discrimination with the beautiful stuff like disabled pride or joy.

Check who has created and manages the space – online spaces created by and for disabled people are more likely to be useful for fellow disabled people. They are more likely to be balanced, and add value to your disabled life.

Set yourself some guiding principles – to manage the ableism you inevitably will come across. For instance, avoid looking at particular groups after dark, to make sure you don’t get intense emotional responses before bedtime. Other principles you can consider are calling out ableism only when you have available support through the day to debrief.

Know when to leave – give yourself permission to leave a space at any time if it stops being useful for your wellbeing. There is nothing wrong with unfollowing someone or leaving a group that makes you feel worse or is contributing to your internalised ableism for instance. It is useful to think about the big picture. If you leave most spaces, it may be useful to search for an alternative to make sure you stay connected and well.

The online space has given so many of us the ability to connect with fellow disabled people, to learn about ableism, find our voice, form friendships and nurture our special interests.

If you are looking for a safe and nurturing space to connect with other disabled people, check out our groups here and register your interest to join the next one.

You deserve to feel safe and connected, no matter where you are.

Liel Bridgford

Psychologist, Writer, Educator

Kultivate Founder & Director

Disability adjustment & you

By Liel Bridgford [3 minutes read]

Is it normal to be anxious or depressed when you live with disability or when you just received a new diagnosis or experience a relapse?

*[a white disabled person traveling in their wheelchair on a bike path on a road, their crutches connected to the back of the chair, as they’re heading towards a pedestrian crossing.]*

It’s a really understandable to be sad and angry, confused or anxious. But, you don’t have to feel like that forever.

You can reach a point where you can live well with disability. It is possible to be happy and adjusted while living with disability.

To get there, you can work on practicing acceptance. This starts with talking about how you feel, with allowing yourself to experience the grief and shock with someone that you feel safe with.

It is also normal for grief responses to return when we experience a relapse, or new symptoms or receive an additional diagnosis. If this happens for you, it doesn’t mean you are back in ‘square one’ or will never be happy again. All it means is that you have a natural response to a difficult situation, while living in an ableist society that reinforces your internalised ableism.

Each time a response like this appears, practice making room for it, creating art with it, talking about it and practice self-compassion to help get through this difficult time. Self-compassionate actions can include anything from a positive mantra like ‘I’m here for myself’, to taking time off responsibilties, to eating your favourite snack.

Learning disability acceptance tools and practicing regularly will help you adjust to changes more effectively and live more meaningfully – no matter your diagnoses, no matter your symptoms.

Having the right support around you is also key. Take your time to think about what you need, what you are missing and reach out whenever possible. Social connections, finding your people and having the right help for your needs are also essential for your social and emotional wellbeing. You can start by reaching out to a GP, friend, or online support groups for disabled people.

Eventually you can reach a point of living well and meaningfully with disability. You most definitely deserve to.

Liel Bridgford

Psychologist, Writer, Educator

Kultivate Founder & Director

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 — *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

Speaking up – A 2024 Wrap Up

By Liel Bridgford [2 min read]

Speaking up is not always easy, while it is always a privilege.

Last year was a busy one, and some of my favourite moments happened while speaking about my passions: disability rights, accessibility, mental health, disability justice and more.

Below are some of those highlights.

In March I interviewed Hannah Diviney about her memoir. Connecting with the audience was best part about that event – hearing the impact of our words on others is always special.

On the podcasting front, I was recently interviewed on the podcast Disability Disrupters – a New Zealand based podcast about disrupting the status quo in disability. It was a pleasure to speak with Pam, and connect over our shared experience of working in the health sector. Pam asked interesting questions, and my favorite was what would I change in the disability sector.

On the radio front, I spoke with ABC about gossip and imposter syndrome, both were short and sweet interviews. I particularly enjoyed talking about imposter syndrome in light of the imposter syndrome workshop I facilitated through Writers Victoria. Facilitating that workshop was definitely a highlight from the year, as I combined my passions for mental health and writing.

Another highlight of 2024 was speaking with Jasper Peach on Able radio, when I got to talk about the importance of mental health support for disabled people and how to find the right support for you.

On a cool June evening a group of writers gathered at Doncaster library and I facilitated workshop about managing ableism, internalised ableism and writing consistency. It was a beautiful evening of connection, thinking and redefining meaning.

When I arrived at the Channel 31 studio for my interview with ALL IN I have to admit that I felt a little nervous. The experience was wonderful and as I moved away from the studio after speaking about mental health, disability justice and immigration, I felt a huge sense of pride.

In December to celebrate International Day of People With Disability and finish off the year, I had the great privilege of delivering my first keynote speech at St John of God Accord.

There have also been many other moments of speaking up and advocating this year- from social media, to my kids school, to professional meetings and everything in between.

It is with great hope that I conclude speaking up for 2024. I hope our words reach someone who needs to hear them.

Liel Bridgford

Psychologist, Writer, Educator

Kultivate Founder and Director

Ableism in the Health Sector

By Liel Bridgford [1 min read] – The following article was first published on Powerd Media on 27th February 2025:

I was furious when my friend lost her job because of mental health struggles, especially because we worked for an organisation dedicated to mental health support.

A few years later when I was the one who lost their job because of ableism, I was in shock. I thought working as a health professional would provide me with some support, or at least understanding.

Instead, I was bullied and pushed out of a job I was very good at, because of my mental health. Because of ableism.

Ableism, or the discrimination and prejudice against people with disability, is just as prolific in the health sector as it is elsewhere. I wrote about the devastating impacts of health ableism here.

In various workplaces I physically struggled as accessibility is still not prioritised across many healthcare settings, both private and public. One particular government-funded employer refused to provide accessible entry despite my advocacy efforts for an alternative to the staircase.

Such violations of our human rights create unsafe working spaces where disabled people are not able to enter, remain, or advocate for their needs. Many disabled people feel scared of talking about their experience of this for fear of being judged, excluded, or even losing their jobs. Most people who responded to my social media post about this have asked to speak anonymously.

Our healthcare system remains unjust, and ineffective. Disabled people struggle to get the healthcare they need, and in Australia disabled people have lower health outcomes than our non-disabled peers.

In order to dismantle health ableism we must bring more disabled people into this workforce, and ensure they can remain there.

As a disabled psychologist, I work not only to best support people with their suffering, but also to alleviate these through systemic change. I advocate for inclusion and anti-ableism work whenever I can. I shamelessly talk about my own disability experience with colleagues and the broader health sector.

Creating a health system that is equitable requires more of us. More disabled health professionals who can create workplaces we can flourish in, and services that provide equitable, client-centred, holistic care to our communities.

Disabled people deserve as good healthcare as anyone else. And we are best placed to shape the creation of the healthcare system we all want.

Liel Bridgford

Psychologist, Writer, Educator

Kultivate Founder and Director

Make the most of the online disability community

Disability adjustment & you

From Shame to Pride

Speaking up – A 2024 Wrap Up

Ableism in the Health Sector

Acknowledgement of Country