A South Australian Government disability inclusion campaign is asking the community to see the ‘person’ before the ‘disability’. It is intended to remind the community of the diversity of tastes and opinions regardless of physical abilities and other attributes.
‘See me for Me’ aims to shift the narrative of what it means to live with disability. It celebrates the unexpected qualities, abilities and preferences of a diverse range of people with disability who live full and rich lives that are not defined by disability.
SA Human Services Minister Nat Cook said the campaign uses humour to challenge unconscious bias and rethink about what’s possible.
Leading South Australian disability advocacy organisation JFA Purple Orange were consulted and South Australians living with disability provided input at all stages of the campaign’s development to ensure it clearly reflects what it means to live with disability.
The campaign asks: Would you expect a person with vision impairment to be … a rev-head motor sport fanatic? A wheelchair user to be most embarrassed about … their taste in music? Or a person with down syndrome to shock his friends by … wearing crocs with socks?
The campaign demonstrates that disability is a natural and ordinary part of human diversity and people with disability live full lives with interests, desires, and dreams, like anyone living without disability.
The campaign is running on South Australian radio, television and outdoor advertising as well as online through Facebook, Instagram and YouTube from until August 13.