Celebrities tend to be trendsetters; they dictate the latest fashion and diets and not always in a positive light. However, disabled celebrities do seem to be providing support and encouragement to other non-famous people who made themselves be struggling with mobility issues and concerns around using AIDS in public. As an NDIS provider on the Gold Coast, we know what difference it can make for people to accept the use of aids, but we also see the internal struggle as people do not want to admit that they may need them.
May Vogue
In May, the popular UK magazine Vogue presented an issue all about disability. The magazine titled the edition Reframing Fashion, and it featured 19 celebrities who have a disability. Among them were actress Selma Blair, who has been very vocal about her journey with Multiple Sclerosis, Jeremy Renner, who suffered a massive trauma accident and has been learning to walk again; and Aaron Rose Phillips, a trans-disability activist with cerebral palsy.
Admitting the Need for Help
Many conditions present as visible disabilities and can make those who suffer feel very vulnerable and unsure about going out in public using a wheelchair, walking sticks or other mobility aids. They can also be comfortable with one specific type of aid, for example, a walking stick but be reluctant to have a wheelchair because they are concerned about the reception. It will gain from strangers and friends alike.
Jeremy Renner
At the beginning of 2023, Jeremy Renner, an actor famous for many different roles, including Hawkeye, was run over by the snowplough he was using. He suffered several broken bones in every extremity and lots of other injuries. At his most recent Premier, he was captured on video and photo using a walking frame to get to the red-carpet area and then changing to a dignified black cane. He is a powerful reminder that at any point, any one of us could go from being fully abled to being disabled. For some people like Jeremy Renner, this may be temporary, and he is expected to recover fully, but for others like Selma Blair, MS will continue to be a lifelong battle.
Acceptance is Key
Those suffering from a potentially invisible illness who have reservations about being seen in public with mobility aids often push themselves beyond the limits of what they can do. For example, because they do not want to be seen with a walking stick or wheelchair, they struggle around for a whole day and end up with days in bed recovering. We must create an arena of acceptance for everyone, no matter how they present in public. The rest of the battle is a personal and internal struggle, but if we can create this safe space for everyone to use any mobility aid, they choose, we may give someone the confidence. There have been many reports of people who have felt better about their need for a walking stick or wheelchair because they have seen a celebrity in public using the same.