My Disability Pride Month Speech at The Senedd

'It’s Okay to Be Different': A Disability Pride Month Speech at The Senedd
On July 2, 2025, I was invited by Scope to speak at The Senedd for Disability Pride Month. This was a momentous occasion, one that I never could have imagined growing up. The gravity of being invited to speak at The Senedd is still not lost on me, and it's a testament to the progress we've made in advocating for disability rights.

Web speaking img 20250702 112017 — Gavin delivers a speech at The Welsh Assembly during Disability Pride Month

It was a tremendous honour, not just for me personally, but for what it represented, and still does. I am deeply grateful to have had the opportunity to share my story and advocate for the rights of the disabled community.

I shared my personal journey of living with cerebral palsy and a speech impediment. These challenges have not only shaped me but also tested my resilience. They have given me a unique voice, one that may not always be heard in the way others might expect.

Before I became an author, I was a songwriter, and I continue to write lyrics and remain involved in music today. Music gave me a way to express what I couldn’t always say out loud. It has been emotional, creative, and an opportunity to lay everything bare for all to read and see. Then I discovered writing for children, and that gave me a whole new voice. One that could leap off the page and speak directly to kids, many of whom had never seen a disabled character in their books before.

Storytelling gave me a way to connect deep down from the depths of my inner soul. Then came blogging, public speaking, each one another door, another form of expression.
At the same time, I was also navigating a complicated relationship with AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication). I knew it gave me a way to express myself, but I also resented it at times. It didn’t always feel like me. The technology was there, but the connection wasn’t always easy.
Now, with the support of AI voice tech, I’m experiencing something new. This technology has revolutionised my communication, making it more fluid, more personal, more human. It’s reminding me just how powerful it is to speak, even if you do it differently from everyone else. The AI voice tech has not only improved the speed and accuracy of my communication but also added a personal touch, making it feel more like 'me' than ever before.

That’s what I talked about at The Senedd. The need for real inclusion. Not just awareness, not just visibility, but the kind of inclusion that listens, educates, and makes a real difference. That adapts. That respects disabled voices as they are, not as people think they should be.
It was uplifting to be asked to present and talk about my experiences living with cerebral palsy and a speech impediment. To be honest, just having the unbelievable chance to share my unfiltered narrative and express my views on disability and acceptance meant everything.

Disability Pride Month isn’t just a celebration. It’s also a crucial platform for advocacy and awareness. It’s about showing the world that we exist in every space, not hidden away or waiting to be invited in, but living whole, complex, brilliant lives. It’s about recognising that pride looks different for everyone. Sometimes it’s loud and bold. Sometimes it’s quiet and
persistent. Sometimes it’s just about showing up when the world makes it more complicated than it needs to be.

To them, and to anyone who needs to hear it, I’ll be saying this:
It’s okay to be different. Accept yourself, and accept others, too.
That’s not just a message for Disability Pride Month. It’s the foundation of everything I do as a songwriter, author, and advocate. I want to leave you with this thought: It's okay to be different. Accept yourself, and accept others, too. Let's strive for a society that not only tolerates but celebrates diversity and inclusion.

I’m proud to represent the disabled community in Wales and beyond. But more than anything, I’m pleased to be still learning, growing, and showing up, voice and all.

July is Disability Pride Month

It’s Okay to Be Different: Why Disability Pride Month Matters

July marks Disability Pride Month, a time that often doesn’t get the recognition it deserves. For many of us who live with disabilities, it’s more than a date in the calendar. It’s a powerful reminder that it’s okay to be different, accept yourself, and be accepting of others. It's a time when we can feel empowered and proud of who we are, knowing that our disabilities never define who we truly are.

I’ve lived with cerebral palsy and a severe speech impediment all my life. So when I talk about pride, I’m not talking about pretending it’s all easy. It’s not. There are days when disability feels like an uphill slog. But Disability Pride Month isn’t about glossing over the difficult bits.

Growing up, I didn’t see people like me on TV, in books or anywhere much at all. When disabled people were shown, it was usually in a way that perpetuated stereotypes or made you feel sorry for them. Or they were expected to be some sort of inspiration just for existing. Disability Pride Month challenges that. It says our lives aren’t just something for others to misconcept. It's a time when we can challenge these stereotypes and show that our lives are worth living.

Why It’s Important?

Here’s why Disability Pride Month matters:

● Representation: It helps more people see disabled lives as ordinary, varied and valid. That visibility still makes a difference.
● Acceptance: It’s an opportunity to push back against underrepresentation. Too many of us have been made to feel like our disabilities are something to hide or apologise for.
● Community: Feeling connected to others who just get it, without having to explain everything, can be powerful.
● Action: Pride isn’t only about celebration, it’s also about demanding better access, inclusion, attitudes and opportunities. It's a time when we can come together as a community and commit to making these demands, knowing that our voices are powerful and can bring about change.

What Pride Looks Like

Disability pride is personal. It might involve speaking openly about your experiences, posting online, attending an event, or simply taking a moment to reflect on how far you’ve come. It’s
also about recognising that there’s no one way to be disabled, no single story that sums us all up.
For me, it’s in the little things: using my AAC or AI-Voice to share my voice, writing books with disabled characters, or having honest conversations that challenge assumptions. It’s choosing to stand up for inclusion, even when it would be easier to stay quiet.

How You Can Support

If you’re wondering what you can do this month (or any time), here are a few simple things:
● Listen to the voices of people with disabilities and share their work.
● Challenge ableist language and attitudes when you hear them. This could be as simple as correcting someone who uses the term' wheelchair-bound' or questioning why a building doesn't have a ramp for wheelchair users.
● Make spaces and activities more accessible. This could mean ensuring there are ramps and elevators for wheelchair users, providing sign language interpreters at events, or using plain language and large print for written materials.
● Treat disabled people as equals, not as tick box projects or inspirations. This means valuing their contributions and experiences, rather than seeing them as a token representation of diversity or as a source of inspiration for non-disabled people.

Disability Pride Month is about respect. It’s about making room for all of us to show up as ourselves, without shame or apology. However you choose to mark it, remember this: it’s okay to be different, accept yourself, and accept others.