Event Recap: Diversability Unplugged: International Disability Advocacy

By Mary Fashik, Diversability Leadership Collective Community Engagement Manager at Diversability

For our December Unplugged event, we hosted four D-30 Impact List Honorees to discuss international advocacy. This month’s panelists included:

Dr. Robbie Francis Watene (she/her), 2020 D-30 Disability Impact List Honoree, New Zealand

Winfred Wanja Kirumia (she/her), 2022 D-30 Disability Impact List Honoree, Kenya

Ahouty Kouakou (he/him) 2022 D-30 Disability Impact List Honoree, Côte d'Ivoire

Haseeb Abbasi (he/him), 2022 D-30 Impact List Honoree, Pakistan

Diversability’s Mary Fashik, a 2021 D-30 Impact List Honoree, moderated the conversation. 

Discussion Overview 

After brief introductions, panelists began the conversation by sharing how disability is viewed in each of their countries and how it has shaped their advocacy. Disability advocacy is often viewed from a Western lens, so the panelists sharing their thoughts on this topic was vital to the conversation. What we learned was that disability and the word disabled are still thought of negatively throughout the globe. 

Panelist Haseeb Abbasi shared how many doubted he could achieve his goals because of his intellectual disability. He is now the owner of his own juice bar “Squeezy – The Juice Bar.” Haseeb stated that those who doubted him are now his best customers.

The panelists were asked what is something they are advocating for that others may not know is an issue. Ahouty Kouakou from the Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire) stated that disabled people are often denied the right to serve any public office. The audience was also reminded that legislation such as the Americans with Disabilities Act does not exist worldwide. Ahouty and Winfred Wanja Kirumia advocate for the most basic human rights for the disabled community in their respective countries.

A very poignant moment in the conversation was when Winfred talked about the fact that genital mutilation is still happening to girls and young women in Kenya. She also mentioned how those in power, particularly the police abuse their power.

As the conversation shifted, the focus turned to the future and this year’s theme of International Day of Persons with Disabilities - the role of innovation in fueling an accessible and equitable world and whether or not a truly accessible and equitable world is possible. The responses were mixed.

Panelist Dr. Robbie Watene stated, “We need people with disabilities leading the change because we know what we are doing.”

The evening concluded with panelists answering questions from attendees.

Watch the recap below!