Jay’s journey: from hiding his disability to advocating for change
Stories | December 19, 2024
Jay, a 31-year-old hairdresser from the Philippines and father of three beautiful children, was diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of 15. To manage his condition, he learned that he needed to make significant lifestyle changes—such as avoiding late nights, exhaustion, sun exposure and stress. While these adjustments were necessary to control his seizures, they left him feeling restricted and impacted his mental health.
Out of fear of judgment and rejection, Jay has hidden his mental health condition from those around him. The trauma he experienced from being treated poorly by his family, who made him feel rejected and different, has compounded his struggles. He also kept his condition concealed from employers, as disclosing it often led to job loss.
However, Jay’s involvement in a CBM-supported project has been transformative. The project aims to support people with disabilities living in areas at high risk of disaster by helping them become more involved in decisions that affect their lives. One of the ways the project team is doing this is by supporting Organisation of People with Disabilities (OPDs) to engage in policies and programs on climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction so that they will be better prepared for and more able to cope when a disaster strikes. The team supported Jay to join one of these OPDs where he was appointed as the Board of Director. Now, rather than hiding his mental health condition, he actively advocates for the rights of people with disabilities in his community.
Reflecting on his journey, Jay says, “I have gained courage in facing the challenges life has brought. Thanks to the project and the training I’ve received, I have realized that, despite my disability, I am still fortunate to be able to work.”
CBM Australia acknowledges the support of the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP).
https://www.cbm.org.au/stories/jays-journey-from-hiding-his-disability-to-advocating-for-change