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Articles by Ella Sargison
What even happens when you report a car parked over a footpath?
It’s a nice day today, and you think maybe you’ll take public transport to work. It’s only a five minute walk to the station. A sense of achievement rushes over you as you put on some sunnies and roll out the door. But a couple hundred metres in, this walk turns into a gauntlet of road cones, temporary road signs and cars canted up on the footpath. At this rate, you’re missing the bus and you might as well just work from home.
Why I’m actively choosing joy to reject ableist views on being short-statured
As disabled people, we’re used to non-disabled people being obsessed with finding a ‘cure’ or seeing us as burdens to society. These were the same people who authored this article. The scientist wanting to ‘eradicate’ my people clearly hadn’t consulted with the short-statured community. People from outside our communities often struggle to imagine how we could be happy and actually like being disabled. Reading an article that was so personal and unexpected really threw me.
Review: Siblings show is a cup of tea for the whole whānau
A group of us went to see Siblings at Te Pou Theatre and it was such a cool experience from the moment we arrived. Some of us were wheelchair-users, and the venue was really spacious and easy to move around in, which made a huge difference. The staff were so accommodating too to the point where they even removed extra seats so we could all sit together comfortably as a group. That little detail meant a lot because it made us feel included before the show even started.
'Forms and forms and forms': Getting your Licence to Drive as a disabled person
Licence to Drive star Ryan Bohea talks to D*List editor Olivia Shivas about learning to drive as a disabled person while sharing the qualms of filling in so many forms and why he doesn't put stickers on his wheelchair. Listen to the podcast interview between Ryan Bohea and Olivia Shivas, or read the transcript below. Olivia Shivas: Okay. Kia ora, my name is Olivia. I am the editor at The D*List. And thank you, Ryan, for joining me today. Ryan Bohea: Thank you very much for having me. It's a pleasure.
‘Our stories, pūrākau’: Siblings showcases whānau relationships on stage
“I promise that it will make you cry. And if it doesn't, it will make you laugh,” says Kiriana Sheree, cast member and one of the devisers of the show Siblings, which premieres at Te Pou Theatre in Tāmaki Makaurau this week. The show, directed by Pelenakeke Brown and associate director Barnie Duncan, features four disabled performers and delves into themes of sibling relationships, disability, agency and care.
Taking the mic as Deaf and disabled slam poets
For the last six weeks, partnering alongside Action Education, The D*List has run free spoken word poetry workshops for Deaf and disabled people to learn, write and perform. My highlights were seeing lots of new faces at The D*List community hub and witnessing the progress of the participants, who performed their poems so well.
Two years of replenishment - and joyful rage - at The D*List
Soaking up the wisdom One of the first things I learnt - ironically - is that I have a lot to learn. Coming to the realisation that I didn’t know everything was humbling and uncomfortable at first, but I learnt to lean into the discomfort. Being stretched was painful, but growing into this role became easier with time. Over the last two years, I’ve been lucky to work with many people who have generously passed on their wisdom to me.
How disability representation comes to life in new romance novel Onyx Storm
“I think she’s disabled,” was my first thought as I read Fourth Wing. The clues started to stack up as I raced through the book. I was not a usual fan of romantasy, but what drew me in was the main character, Violet: a disabled woman who dreams of being a dragon rider, despite the ableism in her way. I loved that she had a good friend, Jesinia, who is Deaf. I especially loved that none of this was explicitly mentioned; none of this was explained by a tidy medical diagnosis.
Review: Hearview’s subtitle glasses means less confusion at the hairdresser
Another bonus is that since not everything online comes with captions, I can't access every TV show or video but these glasses make that a reality and have opened up so much more to watch. Now, the downsides. One is that it takes a lot of concentration and energy to use these. You're trying to look at the person, read the lenses and facilitating both at the same time is super hard for me. Not something I could do for long periods. Then - and you guessed it - it’s the price tag.
Matariki memories: Honouring our whakapapa by uplifting our communities
For me, it’s great to have kupu like Tangata whaikaha or Takatāpui. To feel that sense of acknowledgement of both parts of your identity is vital. In my last workplace I remember a colleague telling me a story about someone they spent the weekend with, they said ‘oh and he’s a taka just like us.’ I told them shyly that I didn’t know what that meant.
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