Tamara Byrne explaines what is like to be a self-advocate, a person with disabilities and how she fight everyday against the inequalities she is target of, as a person with disabilities.
Tamara Byrne spoke about her experience as a self-advocate representing people with intellectual disabilities.
She spoke about what she stands for; What she does to change the world for people with intellectual disabilities;
The stereotypes she faces as a woman with a disability;
The meaning of self-advocacy and supported decision-making and why they are so important.
Tamara works with Inclusion Ireland, the organisation representing people with intellectual disabilities, and with Inclusion Europe for the European Disability Forum’s Youth Committee.
Tamara’s work as self-advocate
Tamara speaks up against the barriers women with intellectual disabilities face and the ways to improve the situation for people with intellectual disabilities.
She advocates for the right to education, work, voting and access to information in a way everyone can understand.
“I use my voice to fight for human rights and call on politicians to listen to us”.
We asked Tamara what self-advocacy and supported decision-making are, and why they are so important, especially for women with intellectual disabilities.
“I think self-advocacy is about finding your own voice and learning how to speak up for yourself as well as learning to join in as an equal part of a group.”
She explained that it is part of her role to make people understand when they need to make things clearer. Sometimes, they just need to explain things in a different way so people with intellectual disabilities can understand. This is what inclusion means.
“It is not that I am not able to do things, it is just the way things are said doesn’t work for me.”
It seems that making things easier is complicated for our society.
During our conversation, Tamara made it clear that even if something is new for people with intellectual disability, it does not mean that they cannot make decisions.
Her experience shows that it is helpful to have someone supporting you in making a decision.
This helps to participate in politics and make decisions about it.
Inequalities, elections and democracy
As a woman with an intellectual disability, Tamara suffers from inequalities.
She feels some people do not accept her for who she is.
For example, when she was finishing school, she wasn’t allowed to do the same exams as others because no-one thought she would be able to go to college.
She reflected on how much she had to fight to get there after she finished school, and how difficult it can be when family members, people in school and strangers look down on you.
“Now some people still treat me as a child instead of as an adult.”
This is what Tamara experienced.
And it is also what many other women with intellectual disabilities face.
They are infantilised, not trusted, not believed, or not seen as intelligent.
Women with intellectual disabilities often deal with barriers to vote or participate in the elections.
“The politicians always use words and write their information in a complicated way.”
This makes it hard to understand what politicians are doing and what they will do to help people with an intellectual disability.
How can people vote for them if they do not know the programme?
Elections need to be more inclusive.
Otherwise, a big part of the society will not be represented and included.
Women with intellectual disabilities cannot be excluded from democracy.
They are just part of the society and have equal rights.
“I have never been shown how to go and vote, without a support person coming into the polling station with me I would not know what to do.”
Tamara gave also her opinion about the changing of society regarding the perception on people with disabilities, in particular women:
“No, I don’t’ think it is changing. People just see a disability and judge me because of this, they still think I have no ability to do things and don’t give me a chance to show I can do a lot.”
They always have to prove they are competent and qualified. This can be very stressful.
Tamara’s work as a self-advocate is helping people understand that we need a big change, and it’s time to hear her voice.