Reflections on Disability Pride 2024
July is Disability Pride Month, a time to celebrate the achievements of people with disabilities and to advocate for greater accessibility and inclusion.
Last year, we spoke with one of our Community Organisers, Jenny Luddington, where she talked about the history of Disability Pride Month. You can read more about it here.
This year Jenny has been collecting and sharing the stories of the volunteers with disabilities and the disability groups in Dover that we have collaborated with on our Nextdoor Nature project.
What is Nextdoor Nature?
Nextdoor Nature is being delivered in Dover by Kent Wildlife Trust and will give people the skills, tools, and opportunity to take action for nature. Bringing communities together to help nature flourish is at the heart of their work.
Jenny: "This year has seen a lot of change, I have transitioned from working on Nextdoor Nature to taking on a new role of Blue Mentor, working with young people on social action projects. This year’s theme for Disability Pride is ‘I want a life like yours’ - it’s a theme that comes from The Arc’s National Council of Self-Advocates. It signifies the disability community’s desires for life experiences that they are too often denied."
Sian Harding, an engagement volunteer at KWT, learned about the chough reintroduction project through Nextdoor for Nature, here’s her story in her own words:
“My name is Sian. I am disabled and have been volunteering with Kent Wildlife Trust community organisers on Nextdoor Nature and the Chough Conservation team over at Wildwood in Herne Bay.
"I have a host of health problems both diagnosed and un diagnosed such as POTS (Postural Tachycardia Syndrome) and EDS (Ehlers-Danlos syndrome) . The disability that affects me the most in my day-to-day life being Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome also referred to as ME/CFS which is a long-term chronic condition that effects differing parts of the body.
"Though often thought of as feeling extreme tiredness for me, and many others, symptoms range from sleep issues, high levels of pain, problems with thinking and concentration (also known as brain fog), flu like symptoms, muscle spasms, headaches and high temperature, and post extensional malaise or PEM referring to a worsening of illness after physical or cognitive exertion. Symptoms can vary from day to day or even hour to hour meaning it`s very difficult for me to know how my symptoms will manifest on any given day. Extreme pain can hit at any moment, as such I have been unable to work for ten years now. I previously worked in addiction rehabilitation.
"For the first six years of my diagnosis I was mostly bed or house bound but I never lost my passion for nature and great love of animals. Watching the birds visit the feeder in front of my window each day was a joy to me, building an affinity with Corvids in particular … I’m crow crazy, Corvid art and collectables covering my home I dream of one day being able to help in the rehabilitation of sick and injured birds.
"I heard through Jenny, who works with Kent Wildlife Trust that a team working on the re-introduction of the red billed chough (absrnt from Kent for over two hundred years) were looking for volunteers. I wanted to help out and learn about these beautiful corvids with red bills and feet who I knew were featured in local folklore after spotting them on the coat of arms for Canterbury.
"I wasn’t sure if I could be of use because of my limitations especially because if I overdo it, my health can crash for days afterwards so I have to be very careful. But I put myself forward anyway and let them know about my health. I was thrilled the day I got the email asking me if I could come and review the nest cam footage to monitor behaviours and track the choughs eggs laying and hatching times.
"I have really enjoyed going in each week and watching the bird’s lives unravel in front of me - like a reality show! I sit at the desk and view the love, loss, and downright cuteness on the screen in front of me. I feel I have really got to know each chough and their parenting styles (father of the year award going to Clive who lovingly watched over his partner every night). I solved mysteries like “Where is Cordelia Hiding her egg?" and trying to coin the phrase 'Sherlock Sian' (it didn’t catch on). I got to meet chough chicks and loved saying hello to the ravens on my way into the office, all a corvid lover’s dream.
"The Wildwood team were very good to me thanking me for my work, never questioning when I couldn’t come in due to my health and I was free to leave whenever I needed to. Plus I was able to work at my own pace taking breaks whenever I wanted. It’s been such a joy for me to help Liz and the Chough Conservation Team, all of whom are lovely. Although breeding season is now over and my job of Chief Chough Spy is done, I hope to continue to my work as a volunteer.
I’m grateful for the accessibility and understanding I experienced, this opportunity has helped to build my confidence and quench my thirst for nature.”
As well as recruiting volunteers from the disability community, Jenny talks about the opportunities for collaboration with disability groups and advocates. One such advocate is Michelle Stannard, founder of Access, Arts and Adventures. Michelle talks about why Disability Pride Month is essential to her:
“Disability Pride Month is super important to help raise awareness of the struggles for the disabled community, and it also provides the opportunity to celebrate any wins and achievements too.
We want to celebrate the work we do with the disabled and marginalised communities in Dover and beyond. We run Access, Arts and Adventures to help give a voice, provide a safe and welcoming space, to try out new activities and to bring disabled people together. Our Wellbeing Wednesday sessions focus on wellbeing, and we offer arts and crafts, tea, coffee and good conversation. We work collaboratively with Co-relate and Future Foundry to make these possible.
We also work collaboratively with Sense for Give it a Go activity sessions around dance, music and theatre. These sessions give all participants the chance to try something new out with professionals working in those fields. Many of our sessions include elements of nature. Kent Wildlife Trust have run wand making workshops and helped us to create art using natural objects. We are also working with Dover Repair Cafe to help adapt clothing, to reduce waste.
Our newest session is an online creative writing group called Amplified. Our aim of this is to give marginalised individuals a voice and help to amplify those voices. Everything we do is setup by disabled people for disabled people. We want to celebrate everyone who is part of that!”
Access, Arts and Adventures group