I have had the idea for this blog for a while now, but not had the balls to go with it. Why? Well it can be a hard subject to approach when you feel you are being left out of local events due to having a disability.

I have been observing a lot of local Zumba events in My home town, and for the past 3 years I have not even been asked to help take it. When I always said I’m certainly up to taking part in them! I completely feel left out purely for the fact that I am disabled, and even if the organisers are not aware, it’s blatant discrimination.

How would you feel if you keep seeing other instructors being asked to do events, but you aren’t? More so when they have not even seen you teach in over 3 years. You cannot judge something that you may have seen 3 years ago, or saw me on a bad CP day. Therefore, judging not only me, but actually my disability. It also showcases their true colours when you are left out.

In some ways it actually makes me laugh, as Zumba was created for all no matter what the ability, but obviously that doesn’t seem to be the case here for local events. It’s obvious that you either must be in a clique, or be seen to be a really good instructor, but despite that fact no one has been to my class – how the hell would they know if I am good or not?

I wouldn’t be teaching a high impact class for 5 years if I wasn’t any good. Oh and I’m the longest running instructor there with one of the most popular classes. But obviously that doesn’t count for anything.

Not making the events fully inclusive to local disabled people by having someone do the whole event seated! Shameful and not something that Zumba encourages. It’s an all inclusive programme. There are up to 15,000 disabled people in My town alone! But no one thinks of including them at events.

I see in other countries that ZES/ZJs / ZINs get local disabled instructors on stage with them at all events to promote that Zumba is for all.

Is it that I have a physical disability, and therefore some people have a preconceived idea that if you can’t do the move exactly that you can’t do it? That anyone with a learning disability can do the moves like anyone else? Is it that I show adaptations to make my class more inclusive for those with physical disabilities?

I’ve also seen it with photographers at Zumba events who clearly don’t take pictures of me! Why? Are you awkward around disability in general? Am I going to ruin your photos cos I have a physical disability?

In this day and age where these issues should not be even rising, it seems a lot of people can’t handle disability. I’m no different to anyone else, just my body is wired differently. Yet I’m completely treated differently to someone with a learning disability or arthritis for example. I can be more able than them. I’m not an alien and do have feelings just like anyone else!

So think about it. Are you unconsciously or consciously discriminating?