So, when my friend Heather’s daughter went viral in her Target ad, she decided to do something staunchly in the way of a true ally for us with disabilities: she reached out to Katie of Changing the Face of Beauty and asked what could be done to include EVERYONE with a disability in a media/ad campaign.
The two of them hatched the idea for “I’m Ready” – which is a campaign to bring 15 major retailers on board for hiring a person with a disability as a model, as their “face”, as their “it-girl”. Or guy. Or kid. Or whomever makes sense.
The “I’m Ready” Campaign
Cut and past this to your post on Facebook, twitter, Instagram……
“Hey (your favorite retailer) #IMREADY for change. We want YOU to include models with disabilities in 2015. We want YOU to be part of the #15in2015 . 15 retailers including models with disabilities in 2015. We know you see us. Represent us.”
Include a photo of YOURSELF if you have a disability, or the person you love best who has one (and has agreed to be posted, of course, unless they are your kid, in which case you might be in trouble later)
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FOCUS ON ADULTS:
Now, I’ve got a child with Down syndrome who, as you all know, is as cute as a button. I’ll be including her in this campaign later, but for this post, I want to emphasize ADULTS because the world doesn’t see enough of us adults with disabilities in ad campaigns.
All of you in my deaf community? JOIN THIS! Gimp Girl Community?! COME ON! You loud and proud people with disabilities who dance in your chairs, WE ARE WAITING FOR YOU! This campaign is about us, it’s for us, we need to push this through!
Post your picture, hash the tags, flow it forward:
Hey H&M #IMREADY for change. We want YOU to include models with disabilities in 2015. We want YOU to be part of the #15in2015 . 15 retailers including models with disabilities in 2015. We know you see us. Represent us!
More info on the campaign:
Changing the Face of Beauty:I’m Ready
Facebook: Changing the Face of Beauty
Meriah Nichols is a counselor. Solo mom to 3 (one with Down syndrome, one on the spectrum). Deaf, and neurodiverse herself, she’s a gardening nerd who loves cats, Star Trek, and takes her coffee hot and black.
