Delivering ‘My Ability’ Keynote Address

Well!

Yesterday I had the honour of being the keynote speaker at the Department of Finance’s MyAbility event. This was coordinated by the disability and inclusion planning committee (DAIP). I was gobsmacked to be asked to speak at such a heavyweight event.

I had my outfit ready, and my hair washed. I drove to work in my other-worldly silent bubble, going over my presentation. ‘You can do this, Han!’

So, what makes a workplace accessible?

What can you do to be more inclusive and foster a welcoming culture?

Is it on team leaders and directors to lead by example, or can we all play a part?

These were some of the questions raised. All brilliant questions. I delivered some practical strategies on how to address them. Sometimes the barriers are so ingrained as to be invisible. It takes a lot of awareness and unpacking to get down to the roots.

Leaders have the most impact, of course, and a ‘trickle-down’ effect is fantastic, albeit rare in my experience. Everyone has the choice to make diversity and accessibility a priority in their lives. We spend so much time at work, this is a natural place to investigate.

What are your company’s hiring policies? What is the disability representation like? Are their people with disabilities in places of leadership? Do you simply hold a morning tea for International Day of People with Disabilities and that’s it?

We sometimes run the risk of pushing to see everyone in the same light and treating everyone the same. This is really tricky when it comes to disability and access needs.

In my speech, I emphasised the importance of not negating lived experience by adopting the ‘see the ability, not the disability’ approach. We should always see the ability. Absolutely. Of course. But don’t discount the innumerable obstacles the person has faced to get to where they are. That needs recognition.

‘See the ability, not the disability’

Nah.

‘See the ability, not support the disability’.

The ‘disability’ bit will be the least interesting part of that sentence. Support it and let the ability shine through and knock your socks off.

I am so thrilled that I was asked to deliver the keynote address.

Me! A deafblind woman. Given this platform! Pinching myself.