The Real Conversations Project 

Real Conversations was created by three disabled activists and engaged four EKO scholars in conversations about their experiences of disability and ableism. Many kinds of barriers exist for disabled individuals which often means that their voices are not heard. This conversation series created a community and platform (for and by disabled folks) where unheard and excluded voices could feel supported and safe enough to be heard.

Sharing experiences of disability and ableism may include experiences of harm and trauma, and also includes experiences of immense joy, love, and laughter. As there can be a deep cost to talking about and reliving difficult experiences, the project team adopted an anti-oppressive approach that was guided by trauma-informed principles to create an environment that prioritized relationships, choice, consent, and the wellbeing of each project member.

The power, connection, and healing found within these conversations has been life-changing for those involved and we are honoured to share them with the EKO community. We invite you to engage with these stories with care and find meaningful ways they might influence your perceptions, policies, and practices. 

Dedication 

We resonate deeply with this quote from the late Richard Wagamese, Ojibwe novelist and storyteller: 

“All that we are is story. From the moment we are born to the time we continue on our spirit journey, we are involved in the creation of the story of our time here. It is what we arrive with. It is all we leave behind. We are not the things we accumulate. We are not the things we deem important. We are story. All of us. What comes to matter then is the creation of the best possible story we can while we’re here; you, me, us, together. When we can do that and we take the time to share those stories with each other, we get bigger inside, we see each other, we recognize our kinship – we change the world, one story at a time…” 

We dedicate this conversation series to all of the disabled youth whose voices and stories were unheard, not-sought, disregarded, and/or usurped; and particularly to those young disabled lives and stories that ended far too soon. We hold you in our hearts as we work towards a better, safer, and more inclusive world for you, me, us, together. 

Quote

“I think of storytelling as a chance to know ourselves better, to really question who we are, where we've been, and who we want to be. Each person has an entire universe of stories inside of us. So my question to you all is, what is your story and how do you want to share it with the world? If you aren't ready to share. Tell your stories to yourself and let it nourish and guide you. Most importantly, your stories should please you and you alone. And when you are ready to share it, it'll be out there with other disabled narratives pushing back at that status quo.” 

― Alice Wong, Year of the Tiger: An Activist's Life and 2024 MacArthur Genius Grant recipient