Turn pain and lessons into power and action: Disability Rights:
Turn pain and lessons into power and action. ❤️✨ Disability Rights:
Alt text:
An illustrated group portrait of diverse individuals of different ages and abilities, including children, adults, and elderly people. Several are seated in wheelchairs, one uses a cane, and others are standing, showcasing visible diversity in disability. The group is facing forward with calm, determined expressions. The text above the group reads, “Turn pain and lessons into power and action.” Below, it says, “Disability Rights.” A heart in the top right corner contains the words “Kawaii Doll Decora,” and the same name appears vertically along the left edge as a watermark
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I’m exhausted by the state of the world — but more determined than ever to change it.
People need a reality check. The disabled community needs authentic voices, because those merely playing at supporting disability are revealing their true colours. Masks are slipping. And ableism persists — even from within our own community.
When a non-disabled person is ableist, it’s heartbreaking but somewhat understandable — they’ve never experienced life from the front line. But when disabled individuals are ableist? That’s far worse. They harm their own community. They should know better. Support isn’t a luxury — it’s the bare minimum.
Today I was hurting. I was up late last night dying my hair and finishing a year of prep for this festival. I arrived low on spoons, struggling with multiple invisible conditions. I queued first — but my bags weren’t checked first. In fact, the staff member told my partner and me to wait, and let others through ahead of us. If she had to ask us to wait, then that was her choice — not mine.
Society keeps putting people in positions of power without ensuring they understand dynamic disability. It’s unacceptable. And it’s yet another reminder of how much more education is needed — and how much harder I need to work.
I don’t carry a walking aid for fun. I don’t use medical cannabis for fun. I use them because I need them to survive.
Right now, I absolutely despise the society I’m surviving in and what it’s becoming. If I don’t try to change it, I don’t know how much longer I can cope. It’s devastating to witness disabled people turning on each other. Ableism is spreading like a plague.
No one should have to suffer like I have. There’s no need.
So I will keep doing what I can to safeguard others — even if it makes me a target of clique-led hate and ostracism.
Morals don’t care if you hate me.
Morals matter because they ensure the right things are done in the end. If you’re only pretending to be a good person while enabling harm, you’re fooling no one but yourself.
Stuff your reputation — doing the right thing will always matter more. And yes, it’s cost me before. But it’s necessary. It’s important. And more people need to find the courage to do it too.
Sarah Wingfield
Independent Disability Advocate
Using writing to express the perspective of someone with multiple invisible conditions — in the hope that others who relate will find me, so we can work together to build something better.
I refuse to accept the way this society is.
You can’t make me.
It could be so much better.
