Disabled and Proud

Dee talks with Brooke about her rare genetic condition and how she is disabled and proud.
They discuss ableism and why disabled people are so strong, confident and able to advocate for themselves
It's one step at a time on any journey and the steps can be big or small, the important thing is to keep making them

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• There is a stigma around using mobility aids but they are something that can help It’s the way people treat disability that brings the stigma
• Until you have a disability you are completely blind to how ableist the world is
• There isn’t a choice around being strong you have to be to get through
• If you feel like you have a disability you have to push and advocate for yourself
• I’m proud to call myself disabled now but it hasn’t always been so, it’s a journey you have to go through and now I wouldn’t change it for the world
• Sometimes you have to walk away from those who are ableists, you are the only person who knows what you are going through

BEST MOMENTS
‘I learnt to listen to my body and my head because it's important’
‘It’s a journey you have to go through and it can be lonely, finding your people can be really important’
‘When people find you are confident and love yourself it can be difficult for some people to compute’
‘It was scary needing to use something to help with my mobility but it’s those aids that help me to be independent’

VALUABLE RESOURCES
Disabled & Proud Podcast

ABOUT THE HOST
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

In this episode Lee is with Brooke talking about how his journey has helped me to become more resilient and resourceful and has led to a pathway that means he now makes an impact on the world every day
As a disabled entrepreneur Lee is passionate about what people can do and discusses with Brooke why disabled entrepreneurs have the skills and creative approaches that can make them the best and most resilient entrepreneurs 

KEY TAKEAWAYS 

• After I got through the initial emotions I realised I’d never really been grateful for things and then I’d lost them, it gave me a much more holistic viewpoint of what I should be grateful for I looked outside of myself and looked at what was really important and became grateful for things that previously Id taken for granted 
• Acceptance was what brought me to the place where I could effectively tackle rehab. Your support network and the ways we are interconnected with others is vital I’ve always known I navigated the world differently and thought about things differently. As an autistic person I had to go back and try and work out what was a mask and what was me
• A diagnosis can be the start of the most interesting and challenging self-awareness journey as you find the concept of who you want to be in the world
• For many people a diagnosis can bring the permission to bring themselves to the world and do great things 
• I have a business now that I’m incredibly passionate about built from all the facets of who I am and what I do that is making a difference 
• Disabled entrepreneurs are able to accelerate at an incredible speed tacking problems in a comprehensive and multi channelled way making some of the best entrepreneurs 
• There has to be a balance between being honest and raw about the challenges  that we have and having our  strengths validated, accepted and championed by society 

BEST MOMENTS
‘Challenges and adversity help us to find out what we are really capable of and shape us to do  great things’ 
‘That moment didn’t happen to me, it happened for me’
‘Waking up and knowing that I’m creating that impact every day there is nothing more powerful than that’

VALUABLE RESOURCES
Disabled & Proud Podcast

ABOUT THE HOST
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

Nicole talks with Brooke about her journey, from being part of a very small community to winning the title of Miss Iowa and taking part in the Miss America Pageant along with the transition from being a disabled child to a disabled adult and how the attention changes.

They discuss the importance of community and body autonomy and why Niccole is proud to be disabled

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Every day, in my job, I’m thinking about, talking about and serving the amputee community, it’s my every day
• It was crazy when I won because up until that point the messaging for me was that I wasn’t any different
• I competed alongside all the other girls for Miss America and felt like I won fair and square but the focus was on how inspiring it was
• Inherently me stepping on that stage was a really big thing and I was used as a marketing tool and treated differently
• I didn’t have a community surrounding me who could help me to make sense of it
• My life shifted drastically with the experience and it was full on as an experience the saving grace in all of it was the community
• Socially structures have been built to keep us out and it’s a lot of work to break those barriers
• I wish I’d been taught earlier about body autonomy and how to reach a point of peace with your body
• I understand that when people first interact with me I am representing everyone on my community

BEST MOMENTS

‘I went from winning one night to being world news the next day and that really freaked me out’

‘Let’s change the narrative, it doesn’t have to be pity narrative or a superhuman narrative or overcoming I’m living in my disabled body every day and doing things’

‘My disability isn’t my only attribute’

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Disabled & Proud Podcast

ABOUT THE HOST

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

Scott talks with Brooke about the use of the term disability and his own journey with, as he describes it, the most common conditions that very few people have heard of, FND
He discusses the journey to being diagnosed and the groups and people who helped him the most. They also discuss inclusivity and the importance of flexibility for businesses through understanding that everyone is unique and individual in their needs.

KEY TAKEAWAYS 

• A lot of people see the word disability as a dirty word but it’s not, don’t be afraid of using it 
• There is no business in the world that is totally inclusive, as a business it’s about being as inclusive and flexible as you can at a given time 
• If you stand by when you see something that’s wrong you are part of the problem
• Having an umbrella term like disability  is positive in bringing everyone together, the gatekeeper is only ever in your mind and what you accept 
• Your life can always change so you don’t hold back in life 
• If you are diagnosed look for other FND groups, they will be the people who will be able to help you more than any doctor 
• Just because one person experiences it in a particular way it doesn’t mean the next person will have the same experience
• There is a massive difference between resting and stopping and when you are resting you can have some of your best ideas 

BEST MOMENTS 
‘It’s probably one of the most common conditions that very few people have heard of’ 
‘We all go through this journey of accepting disability’
‘With disability there is not one size that fits all, everyone is very individual ‘

VALUABLE RESOURCES
Disabled & Proud Podcast

ABOUT THE HOST
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

Kelly Gordon is Brooke’s guest and shares her own story and talks about the visibility of disabled people  and how her disability is part of who she is

They discuss being empowered and stepping into who you really are and why embracing it and working to be the best person you can be are so important.

Kelly also discusses being tenacious and why she wouldn’t want to be anyone except the amazing person that she is

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Everyone is on a journey and it’s about learning how you relate to your identity and disability
• There was no representation when I was growing up and there was no ability to connect or any visibility of disabled people
• I want to educate other people that disabled people are awesome and that society should be more inclusive
• Parts of my personality comes from struggle and from perceptions of others and wanting to be the best person and help to educate others
• We only work on projects that have a purpose, we are here to change things
• Embrace your disability, my wheelchair is an accessory, something I wear every day that makes me look different and is a big part of my personality
• The sooner you embrace your disability as part of you, the sooner you will come into your own and succeed

BEST MOMENTS

‘Now I’m completely comfortable with my disability, what my body can and can’t do and my image as a person’

‘I wouldn’t change a thing about my life and who I am’

‘Being able to be empowered is when you really start to grow’

VALUABLE RESOURCES
Disabled & Proud Podcast

ABOUT THE HOST

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

Brooke is talking with Ryann, disability advocate and registered nurse on wheels. They discuss careers, doing what you want to do when you want to accomplish everything along with being driven and how accepting your disability can be the key to your liberation

Ryann also discusses how learning to do things differently and doing what’s right for you and your body can positively impact on your career and life

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• I did everything I wasn’t supposed to do without knowing I wasn’t supposed to be doing it
• I had been advocating for my disability for years, without thinking about it, in healthcare as a nurse and my entire life I’ve had to do things a little differently
• It’s merging both my knowledge of healthcare and as a patient to help others
• It’s empowering to see someone else with a disability out and about and living their lives
• Disability and sex are the last taboo
• The thing I’m most proud of in my disability journey is doing the right thing for my body that lets me be the best nurse, the best advocate and the best human I can be
• Going through everything made me stop putting my disability in a bag behind me and only pulling it out when it was useful to me and accept this is  the body I’ve been given and to continue doing what I’m doing I have to do things a little differently
• When you are disabled you are learning all the time and you learn to think outside the box
• Being in a wheelchair was liberating I was able to live on my own for the first time
• This is the only life and body you have been given and you have just a much right to enjoy it as anyone else

BEST MOMENTS

‘I would have benefited to have someone in my life growing up that was out and disabled and talking about it’

‘We are very good at thinking outside the box’

‘In this world we have able bodied people who don’t know enough educating disabled people who need it to be their entire lives’

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Disabled & Proud Podcast

ABOUT THE HOST

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

Brooke talks with Maya about how disabled people are represented and why you should be able to define your own joy and purpose

They chat about the massively important role clothes and styling can play in life and why moving to a curated wardrobe of tailored clothing can help you to feel as good on the inside as you look on the outside

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Initially, I ran away from the definition of being disabled because of the negative connotations
• You don’t have to be inspirational or prove your disability to anyone
• When you look at how disabled people are represented it’s only the extremes but disabled people can be whatever they want to be
• You don’t have to be extraordinary to be a disabled person you have the right to define your own joy and your own purpose
• Be patient with yourself, understand that different doesn’t mean bad and you will surprise yourself
• Clothes have always meant something to me and are a way of being in control and expressing yourself
• Having tailored clothing makes my outside match my inside
• Being able to curate a wardrobe of clothes that fit you well makes a difference in feeling good
• It’s helping people to be seen as they want to be seen by others

BEST MOMENTS

‘Clothing and styling  have always been something close to my heart and a huge part of my identity and this has blown up exponentially since becoming disabled’

‘You have to be your own advocate when you are a disabled person because you are going into the world working against a deficit-based of how the world looks at you’

‘You have to have something that is actively helping you’

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Disabled & Proud Podcast

ABOUT THE HOST

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

In this episode, Brooke is speaking with Shams about his work to bring attention to accessibility challenges in India and how he inspires others to believe they can achieve.

Accessibility is a global issue but Shams, through his work, is focused on leaving a significant stamp on accessibility in India and explains how social media has helped him to bring positive change

He shares his own journey and speaks candidly about how he acquired his disability along with why he is disabled and proud.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Telling the untold stories of the world is what inspires people
• With a spinal injury everyone in the family is involved and there are many barriers. Finding a way to break all the barriers and live a life with dignity is very important
• People can feel they are a burden but sports can be a way to achieve something
• in your life
• Seeing people believe that they can achieve is what makes me happy
• Disability is a huge issue in India but things are changing. Education about disabilities is the key to change in India
• I’m doing lots of work about the empowerment of those with disabilities
• Accessibility is an issue in India and we continue to work to make access easier
• Social media plays a vital role in sharing accessibility issues and bringing change  

BEST MOMENTS

‘I’ve led two different types of life in the same skin’

‘If I inspire one person then I’ve achieved what I wanted to achieve’

‘Social media plays a huge part in having a global audience’

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Disabled & Proud Podcast

ABOUT THE HOST

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

Ellie talks to Brooke about her journey how she has found her creative passion and the work she does as a founder of the LookDeeper zine

With a wide ranging conversation they discuss access and how making people feel valid, valued and listened to is key for any individual. They also discuss the breadth of creativity and why it’s so important to reach out and find your people and community.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• As a child I was so unbothered about being disabled and I never felt I missed out on anything
• As a teenager I began to notice others were uncomfortable around me and it made me feel uncomfortable about being me
• I always loved fashion and fashion was very important to me because I can make myself look like a feel
• Now I run LookDeeper Zine a zine by and for disabled creatives its our honest truth and where we represent ourselves
• As a disabled community we are always expected to share
• Be kind to yourself and understand that although you experience the world differently you shouldn’t compare yourself to others
• Trust the process and know that if things aren’t good now they will get better and you will find your people, your community, your tribe
• Engage with your disabled community it was so powerful for me and I really needed it
• I always make other people feel valid and listen to them I’m passionate about people knowing how valuable they are

BEST MOMENTS

‘I have so little control over my body and fashion is the one thing where I can make myself look like I feel’

‘It made me believe in myself so much’

‘The Zine is a space for a form of activism, it’s very honest, it’s about individual experience’

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Disabled & Proud Podcast

ABOUT THE HOST

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 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

Ashley who refers to his disability as a positive, shares his journey and how he found his home and community in disability sports and modelling

In this in depth conversation He chats with Brooke about why you should never doubt yourself and use your disadvantage to your advantage because the sky is the only limit

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• I got involved with sports because I was inspired by seeing David Weir
• You stumble into something and it can be the best thing that’s ever happened
• You can be everything you want to be, I’m still grounded but doing everything I wanted to do
• When people expected me to be good all the time, the pressure meant that I didn’t enjoy it any more
• Nothing is before its time things unfurl at the time that is right for you
• When you seek you don’t find, stumbling into something can be the best way to find what you need
• RGK are the Rolls Royce of wheelchairs and their wheelchairs  changed my whole perspective and lifestyle
• I got to travel the world and build rapport and people said that I inspired them to want to be like me
• With modelling jobs, it happens so quickly that you forget about it until you see the billboard but the Ikea job was the one that changed everything
• Half of me knew I could do this but the other half of humbleness and doubt drowned it out
• Life is different but it’s about learning to manoeuvre in the space

BEST MOMENTS

‘Everyone was - whose this black guy with all the tattoos in this bright green racing chair?’

‘I realised that I was good at sport’

‘Be yourself and don’t waste time doubting yourself’

‘I got to bond with David Weir, me just a regular guy and he’d done all these amazing things’

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Disabled & Proud Podcast

ABOUT THE HOST

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 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