Navigating the Uncomfortable: Honest Conversations About Disability and Identity with Terri

Disabled and Proud

Brooke sits down with Terri, a passionate advocate for disability representation and the founder of a charity focused on supporting individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). Terri shares her journey of navigating life with an invisible disability, discussing the challenges of obtaining a diagnosis and the misconceptions surrounding disabilities.

The conversation highlights the importance of community, representation, and the power of embracing one's disability as a catalyst for personal growth and change.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Embracing disability can lead to personal growth and new opportunities, such as becoming an author or starting a consultancy, which may not have been pursued otherwise.
• There is a significant lack of diverse representation in the disability community, particularly for people of colour. Creating visibility for different experiences is crucial for fostering inclusivity.
• The journey to diagnosis can be fraught with challenges, including medical misogyny and delays in receiving information. Personal experiences highlight the need for better communication and understanding within the healthcare system.
• Establishing a charity that connects individuals with similar disabilities fosters a sense of belonging and reduces feelings of isolation. Events and experiences can help individuals engage socially and feel supported.
• Developing patience is essential when dealing with medical professionals and navigating the complexities of disability. Embracing one's journey and focusing on helping others can provide purpose and strength.

BEST MOMENTS

"I feel like it's almost pushed me to do things that I might not have done if I was quote unquote well."

"I didn't want to stay in a space where I was unhappy and it was causing me more stress."

"I feel like people also forget that I have the same diagnosis that the charity is based around."

"You can't choose how people feel towards a situation."

VALUABLE RESOURCES

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/disabled-and-proud/id1621152878

HOST BIO

Disabled and Proud is the show that brings listeners a different perspective on disability. Each week this podcast highlights an awesome disabled guest speaking about their own disability; why they are proud to be disabled and why they are proud to be themselves.

The conversations in this show will look at what challenges these amazing people face socially, mentally, physically and life in general. This show is raw, open, honest, funny, welcoming and educational.

Disabled & Proud does exactly what it says on the tin! And whilst we are creating this space for disabled people to be unashamedly themselves, without the need to conform to society, this is also not about toxic positivity. This show will be shining a big, bright light on disability without it being “Paralympic or pity”.

As you will hear disability is WHOLE, COMPLETE & PERFECT and whilst the topic of disability can be quite heavy - and we definitely don't shy away from the bad days - this podcast is also about having fun too! Our aim is to play a part in reclaiming the word disability - turning it from inadequacy to perfection!

INSTAGRAM! https://www.instagram.com/disabledandproudpodcast/?hl=en: https://www.instagram.com/disabledandproudpodcast/?hl=en