Disability Pride Month is personal to me.

I live with autism and ADHD, and I have a service dog. Like many disabled people, I have spent much of my life navigating systems that were not designed with people like me in mind. My disability has shaped how I experience the world, how I solve problems, and how I connect with others. It has also taught me resilience, empathy, and the importance of designing communities where everyone belongs.

Disability is not a niche issue in Hamilton – it is one of the defining issues of our city.

According to the latest analysis of the 2021 Census, nearly 220,000 Hamilton residents – 39% of our population – report living with an activity or mobility limitation, a rate that is higher than the Ontario average. Mental health-related disabilities are the most commonly reported, followed by physical and cognitive disabilities.

Those numbers represent our neighbours, our coworkers, our families, our friends – and far too often, people who continue to encounter barriers in accessing housing, employment, healthcare, education, transportation, public services, and civic participation.

Disability Pride Month is about more than visibility. It’s about recognizing disability as a natural part of human diversity while acknowledging that many of the barriers disabled people face are created by society – not by disability itself.

As someone running for Mayor, I don’t need to imagine what it feels like to navigate inaccessible systems. I’ve lived it. That experience has made me a better listener, a more creative problem solver, and someone who understands that good public policy starts by asking the people most affected what they need.

An accessible Hamilton benefits everyone.

When sidewalks are maintained and snow is cleared, seniors, parents with strollers, wheelchair users, and delivery workers all benefit. When transit is accessible, more people can participate in our economy.

This month, let’s also commit ourselves to removing the barriers that continue to exclude them.

Disability isn’t something to overcome. Ableism is.

#HamOnt #CDNPoli #ONPoli #YHMCC #YHMVote @cityofhamilton

Photos by @jessiferocious @jessiegolemphotography

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