A Better World for All: a poem by Stevie Wills
Stories | January 24, 2023 | Author: Stevie Wills, Community Education Officer, CBM Australia
A better world for all.
A world where all
is accessible
For all, people.
What may be called
a tall call
would benefit all.
A world where
people with disabilities
have opportunities
to fully participate in their communities.
Enabling all to make contribution
benefits all.
This is a better world for all.
A world where
people dwell in equity
perceived with dignity
a gulf from reality
the reality I
bring to light
a spotlight
on the plight
of people with a disability
living in poverty
facing barriers to equity
within their community
to full participation
education
occupation
medical intervention
vaccination
sanitation.
Thus, the situation
People with a disability
more likely
to live in poverty
and people living in poverty
have less
access
to medical intervention
vaccination
vital public information
nutrition
sanitation
and this
increases the risk
of illness, infection
the acquisition
of disability.
Thus people in poverty
more likely
to live with disability
and people with a disability
more likely
to live in poverty.
This, the situation.
A persistent, unfair cycle
of poverty
and disability.
A better world for all
let us build
reducing barriers
removing barriers
build the inaccessible
physical
into the accessible
physical.
Remove each barrier
to wheelchair
access.
Provision
of variations
in forms of communication
But more insurmountable than stairs
are prejudice stares.
Rearrange the interior.
The densest of barriers
Attitude.
what we conclude
about disability
will eventuate
in how we relate
to people with disabilities
and their families.
It’s time for an interlude.
Check attitude
slide under microscope
to be reviewed.
For attitudes prelude
what it means to include
or exclude
A better world for all
let us build.
For this is the call.
Benefits all.
https://www.cbm.org.au/stories/a-better-world-for-all-poem-stevie-wills
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