Narrative 8: A quiet genocide: the power of segregation

People with disabilities continue to be segregated and marginalised, where the belief that we are ‘alien’, that we are ‘other’ is upheld by many cultures across history and into current practice. We are currently second-class citizens; an afterthought. A world dominated by the question ‘how can we adapt the non-disabled world for people with disability’? What results is dangerous. This narrow-minded thinking creates an economy of ‘community tourists’. People with disability are shepherded through society as visitors, never guaranteed the full enjoyment of our human rights. We are segregated from society, denied pleasure, procreation and autonomy, and told to ‘be happy with what you have’. This is a quiet genocide. In response, we have started to carve out our own place in society. One that is our supportive community, which is empowering and values our being and inherent dignity.