Reflecting on the last three years.
Today is officially 3 years since I left the office of what was a 20-year career in the public service, and was to be the beginning of what is now Ainslee Hooper Consulting. Although when I left the office, I didn't know I'd be where I am today, I just knew that...
Cripface, Sia and the need for comparisons.
I've said it many times before, and I'll say it again. Ableism is insidious. As I've written about before, ableism can be found in many places and spaces, overtly and covertly. It is so insidious that it happens right in front of us, and we don't even notice...
10 things to know about social inclusion.
This week is #SocialInclusionWeek2020 - a week raising awareness of an issue that is of great importance to me. As such, my weekly round-up of 10 things to know about disability is dedicated to social inclusion. People with disabilities face social exclusion on a...
10 things to know about ableist sayings.
Language matters. How we speak matters. It shapes our worlds. I was recently listening to an interview around diversity and inclusion, and someone used a phrase which we have all heard at one time or another. It was a common phrase and one that I've even...
10 things to know about the word ‘disability’.
It's time for another weekly round of '10 things to know about' and this week it's about the word 'disability'. Let's just jump straight to my list. 1. Disability is not a dirty word. 2. Disability is not a dirty word. 3. Disability is not a dirty word. 4....
10 things to know about inspiration porn.
It's time for another round of my "10 things to know"... I was all set to write about another topic, but upon researching for that article, I came across a piece of content that highlighted a topic I had to address: inspiration porn. I've spoken about...
Able-bodied privilege.
Privilege is one of those discussions that seems to get people off-side very easily. People think because they are labelled "privileged", it must mean they are well off and don't face any problems. This is not the case. A person has privilege when they have an...
Words have power – use them wisely.
Have you ever come across a poem that is so powerfully written that you feel completely overcome with emotion? Recently this poem was shared with me. Words so powerful, because I was reading something that echoed my own experiences. Words so powerful because I know I...
Disabilities can be exhausting, but not because of the condition.
For some, having a disability can be exhausting enough because of the physical and mental toll it can take on the body. Although I have a physical disability, I’m fortunate it doesn’t impact me in that way. That’s not to say that it’s not exhausting; it’s just...
10 things to know about disability.
I was recently asked what are the 10 things, I wish people knew about disability. Here they are in no particular order. To readers, some of these will appear common sense, however, experiences I have had demonstrate there are still gaps in awareness. Please note,...
