In Gear | Rotary in Southern New Zealand In Gear - Issue 3 | Page 15

Around that time, the latest census information was released, and the
stats came as a shock. Nearly one-in-four New Zealanders identified as
disabled. Her lens instantly broadened even further, and her mission became
fighting for the rights of all, whatever the disability, whatever the hurdle, to enjoy
the access to education, and wider opportunities, she has had.
“If something prevents you from engaging fully in society, for me, that means we’re in a
community that’s facing barriers, and we need to remove those barriers,” Robbie says.
“It doesn’t matter whether it’s psychological, psycho-social, mental health, physical,
sensory – whatever it is, there are barriers.
“There can be more stigma around mental health – my leg you can see. It’s
anxiety, it’s depression – these things are affecting New Zealand communities
on a huge scale.
“What’s considered ‘normal state of mind’ and ‘normal state of body’ has
essentially shut out an entire sector of society – if, for example, anxiety is
not considered normal, if you have anxiety, you don’t fit into society’s box
anymore.
“There’s a word for it – ‘ableism’. We recognise racism, sexism, but
‘ableism’ is prioritising a certain ability; so, a sound state of mind, a
normal body. That’s ‘ableism’. ‘Disablism’ is the discrimination against
those who don’t fit those terms.”
And, Robbie’s in no doubt about where the responsibility lies in
shifting the balance.
“It’s about society changing its perceptions rather than trying to
change the individual to suit something that society considers
normal.”
We will have a crisis
on our hands if we
don’t change our
attitudes.”
In this toget