By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
THERE are all sorts of slights that Michelle Davis has wanted to speak up about.
Born deaf due to rubella, Ms Davis said one of those instances was being unable to access an interpreter at hospital.
“When I was taken to emergency by ambulance due to an asthma attack I asked the doctor to organise the interpreter and he refused.
“That’s discrimination and that’s why I am fighting for my rights.”
This month Ms Davis graduated from a Dandenong-based Women with Disabilities Victoria leadership program which teaches about human rights and how to speak up.
She said the four-day program taught her about different types of advocacy, self-esteem and to “stand up and be strong”.
“We are worth it and so speak up and say ‘we are loud, proud, passionate’.”
In the forum, each of the 10 participants spoke about their experiences and worked out solutions to their social treatment.
It was run in “easy English” to encourage participants from a range of cultural backgrounds.
A master’s student, Ms Davis has worked a number of jobs such as cashier, customer service and freight flow work.
“The staff are fantastic to me. They accept who I am.
“(However) I worked in one job for 12 years and they never give me any promotion at all.
“I never did anything but my best but there was no change so I left to start a family.”
To find out about the program, visit wdv.org.au or call 9286 7800.
