Beyond a genetic condition: Becoming more compassionate about myself as part of the ‘normal diversity of the human community’ — Mariangels Ferrer-Duch & Nichola Garde

This interview was sparked by the Dulwich Centre Friday Afternoon video Relocating the problem of disability: Norm Kunc, Emma Van der Klift, Vikki Reynolds and Aaron Munro, and in particular, the idea of ‘the normal diversity of the human community’, as expressed by Norm Kunc. This video presented a turning point in Nichola’s thinking about being an advocate for people with disability and genetic conditions, and provided a link between the social model of disability and self-compassion. Mariangels and Nichola reflect on the battle to be seen as ‘ordinary’, the legacy of adoption and the labour of representing difference.