Francesca Romana Ammaturo is a queer and disabled Senior Lecturer in Sociology and International Relations at London Metropolitan University. Her research explores Pride Events at a global level with a focus on discourses of modernity, human rights, and social justice.

As part of a collaboration between mental health charity Mental Health Matters and LGBTQ+ disability empowerment charity ParaPride for International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we are sharing the lived experiences of disabled people who have faced mental health challenges.

What does International Day of Persons with Disability mean to you?

The International Day of Persons with Disability is a moment of empowerment and joy for me as a disabled person. It means centring visibility, but also the incredible diversity of our community. It means (re)claiming our existence and renewing our demand for rights - social, political, and economic.

What can we learn from the resilience of our disabled communities that prioritise mental health and wellbeing?

Disabled communities are subjected to so many different types of external pressures coming from ableist societies and structures. I am always impressed by the creativity of disabled people, particularly navigating difficult times, undoing stereotypes, using humor and serious knowledge to undo the isolation and harm inflicted through ignorance, neglect, and discrimination. Making community and creating resources are great antidotes to isolation and stigma for disabled persons. I felt really empowered when I could speak to other disabled people about my experiences, or when I saw my disability, Erb's palsy, being represented in a children's book. Making community is a form of collective care that goes counter the idea of ableist "worthiness" of the individual and makes us feel less isolated.

Can you share any practical tips to navigate resilience and impact better mental health?

My tip for navigating resilience and improve one's mental health would be to selective in approaching negative and stereotypical voices about disability. These things, particularly through social media, can make us infuriated, powerless, and pessimist. Building nurturing environments with friends and dear ones, with whom we share a vision for disability justice, can make us feel more grounded, connected, and able to react to these challenges.

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