Reclaiming Narratives: Black and disabled in the community

This year’s theme for Black History Month was ‘Reclaiming Narratives’, and it marked a significant shift towards recognising and correcting the narratives of black history and culture.

It’s crucial to recognise the broader historical context of disability within the black community. Historically, black individuals with disabilities have faced compounded discrimination and marginalisation due to intersecting forms of oppression. From the institutionalised racism within healthcare and education systems, systemic barriers have often limited opportunities for black people with disabilities.

Despite these challenges, black disabled activists and advocates have been at the forefront of movements for social justice and disability rights. Their activism has led to important strides in areas such as accessibility, inclusive education, and representation in media and public life.

One organisation at the forefront is LeeAnna’s Wish in St Albans. Their team is dedicated to tackling systematic barriers and improving access to services in the community.

Madeline Cooper interviewed their founder and CEO Shelley Hayles. Madeline recently met Shelley and visited one of their community events as part of work in Hertfordshire where they are developing a Physical Disability Strategy.

Why did you start LeeAnna’s Wish?

I was looking after my sister LeeAnna, who was a year older than me and passed away in 2016. LeeAnna wanted to help people in her local community and she wanted me to continue her work. The pandemic hit and I could see people becoming socially isolated, especially people from the black community.

We created a Monday club, which involved gin, and it became the Gin Club. The pandemic ended and we were overrun with people wanting to join. It couldn’t happen in my mum’s garden, and allotment.

So we started a coffee morning and a Caribbean night on Saturdays. The dancing was great exercise, the gardening was therapeutic. A ladies, over 30s, football team was also started and that was the beginning of LeeAnna’s Wish. We now have a club for marginalised children, a community café and we’ll soon have our own dedicated allotment space.

What’s important about what you provide?

It’s about safe spaces. You can be physically fit and have a physical disability if the space allows.

If that space is full of white people, will I feel comfortable as a black person? Intersectionality is so often overlooked. For example, being black and disabled? We live in a poverty stricken area and we’re dealing with social exclusion every single day.

All our leaders are from the local community. We open our doors to everyone, but by having a black leadership in place we can reach more people. Black people are more comfortable in joining our groups.

It’s about having people who are different at the top of the system.

Everything we do is intergenerational and accessible. Barriers are not seen until you live through them. Every single day is a battle. For some people, our centre is the only accessible and safe place they can go. Inclusion is everything.

What’s next?

Funding is a constant challenge and keeping our venue open takes most of that currently. I can’t wait to get our allotment space up and running.

I’m asked to work on the police race action plan, the violence against women and girls' strategy. There’s lot’s going on

‘It takes a village to raise a child’ is our mantra. It’s often a throwaway comment, but it really is what we do. But, the intersectionality is everything. Lots of organisations work with just one group, we’re quite unique.

Read more about LeeAnna’s Wish.

Read more about Living on the Edge, our research into organisations working with marginalised communities.

A quote from Kathleen Hernandez, Texas Center for Disability Studies to finish:

“As we reflect on Black History Month, let us honour the resilience, strength, and contributions of black individuals with disabilities.”