Is there an elephant in your room? 🐘
Plus: new podcast series on contentious topics, how total prison voting ban affects us
Noa’ia ‘e mauri gagaj’ atakoa!
There’s an elephant in the room and community contributor, Pieta Bouma, is tired of skirting around its hooves. The term “disabled community” can sometimes sound like an oxymoron given how differently we experience and see the world. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t explore our disagreements and tensions.
Difference and diversity is part of community. Bouma’s podcast, Pieta Pokes The Elephant (in the room), explores themes of risk taking, ableist parenting, and the burden complex. She said, “I wanted to talk about these sensitive, touchy subjects. By exploring them, we take away the power they have over us.”
With D*List editor, and fellow wheelchair-user, Olivia Shivas, they share their thoughts and invite other disabled folks for their input as well. Quickly, you learn there aren’t any unanimous answers, but a lot of wisdom from lived experience that you may be able to relate to.
🎙️ You can listen to the podcast (search ‘The D*List’ wherever you listen to them), or watch it and read the transcripts on our website.
☕️ The Post sits down with Whaikaha Chief Executive, Paula Tesoriero, to understand how and why she became a public servant after being a gold-medal Paralympian.
Growing up, I made this real promise to myself, that's as true today as it was as a kid, that actually all the people that I saw in hospital and the experiences that I had and the desire to really improve things for disabled people, keeps me focused.
🧾 A Wellington-based support worker speaks to E-Tangata about her financial reality while the Government makes ‘savings’ from the extinguishing of her sector’s pay equity claim. She loves her job but works for a minimum wage employer.
When I first started support work, I thought: “Yes! Now I’m finally getting somewhere.”
I’d worked as a labourer before this. I worked mainly with men. It got to the point where I thought: “Nah, stuff this. I’m not here to get treated like I’m a piece of something. See you later, I’m out of here. Good riddance.”
Back then, I used to be in credit with my power company. Now I get warning notices. I’ve started to put feelers out for private clients, so I can earn a bit more. But if I’m working longer hours or more at night, who misses out? My son.
🛌 Re:News investigates the widely misunderstood myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). The chronic condition is not classed as a disability, and instead lumped with mental health conditions, but Rhiannon Purves and Tammy Rumsey’s lives suggest otherwise. Purves is only eligible for three hours of funded care per day, with no family member able to look after her, so she has lived in rest home, in the hospital and now under a shared care plan with Rumsey and their mother, Glenys.
📲 A slew of accessibility features is arriving for Apple users later this year. It includes a magnifier for Mac, a Braille note-taker, an accessible reading mode, live captions on Apple watch and more. Importantly, the App store will introduce a section on each app’s product page to highlight its accessibility features.
🗳️ Olivia Shivas writes how a total ban on prisoner voting will further reduce disabled New Zealanders’ ability to engage in politics.
The Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says the ban is “completely reasonable”. He told media: “this country is built on rights and responsibilities. And if you choose to take the rights but not hold up the responsibilities and find yourself in jail, we are temporarily removing your rights for voting”….
…And while the Prime Minister thinks banning prisoner voting is about “rights and responsibilities” of citizens, perhaps he could address the country’s “rights and responsibilities” to uphold the UNCRPD too.
❤️🔥 PHAB Pasifika, a young, disabled Pasifika-led dance group, will open the Pacific Dance NZ Festival 2025 on Saturday 7 June 5-6pm at Māngere Arts Centre - Ngā Tohu o Uenuku. Grab your tickets here!
Hei tērā Rāmere!
Eda
