A Day to ‘Look Beyond Disability’ - Henry Macphillamy.

This year for International Day of People with Disability, Henry Macphillamy, the person who originally sparked the idea of Vacayit, writes about what this days theme, “looking beyond disability” means to him. #LookBeyondDisability

What is the International Day of People with Disability? (IDPWD)

International Day of People with Disability (IDPWD) is a United Nations observed day celebrated on 3 December each year to increase public awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with disability. By acknowledging this important day, we can take action to remove barriers for the 4.4 million Australians with disability and contribute to positive change in society, in our workplaces and in the community more broadly. The theme of IDPWD for 2022 is ‘look beyond disability”.

So, what does this day and its theme mean to me, as an individual who happens to have a disability?

Looking beyond disability means being valued, respected and accepted for the person I am. It means putting the focus on what I can do instead of on what I can’t see. It means embracing difference in all its forms, and actively celebrating it and recognising that diversity of thought is powerful and valuable.

Looking beyond disability goes far beyond physical appearance, however. Most disabilities are invisible to the naked eye, which can make it difficult for people to understand that disability comes in many forms. Looking beyond disability is about changing attitudes and assumptions about someone’s capacity and capability, and destroying harmful stigma. Negative attitudes have real-world consequences and impacts, and we must do all we can to eliminate them.

Looking beyond disability also requires us all to think about equitable outcomes and leveling the playing field. The first step for this to happening is adopting a more mature mindset when it comes to disability, and being willing to view people with disabilities as people, with all the same hopes, dreams and aspirations as anyone else. We might look different to the so-called ‘norm’, or do things differently in ways that best serve our unique needs. Our humanity is something we all share however, by virtue of being human.

We all need to look beyond disability, and opening our hearts and our minds to different ways of doing and different ways of being is a great place to start. This doesn’t require specialised knowledge. It only requires that we be open to listening and learning from people with different life experiences to our own.

Henry Macphillamy is running on Brisbane’s story bridge with a big smile and bright orange shirt. His guides are alongside him with their hands up in the air.