04 - How can disability frame our perception of the right to choose? - with Paul Walsh

When I was working through the concept of this podcast with Louise Adongo, the executive director of Inspiring Communities, she suggested I consider exploring a theme of right to choose.  Right to choose topics are very polarizing: vaccinations, abortion, medical assistance in dying, religious wear, and so many more.

Louise had been a stalwart supporter of one of my other projects, Amplify: East - this was a topic exploring the stories of women in their own voices, born out of the frustration that a years ago, no one could seem to find any qualified women to interview.  I’m happy to see that trend changing. So when Louise suggested the theme of right to choose and polarization, it felt like a natural link between the explorations of the 2 projects.

I met Paul Walsh through Inspiring Communities’ Atlantic Changemaker Council, and he agreed to come have this polarizing conversation with me on the question of: How can disability frame our perception of the right to choose?

Paul Walsh is a disability advocate located in his hometown of St. John’s, Newfoundland & Labrador.  Paul holds both a Bachelor of Commerce (Co-op) and Master of Business Degrees from Memorial University  He has also completed a graduate certificate in Project Management and holds a Chartered Manager designation from CIM/Chartered Managers Canada.  He has lived experience with physical disability having been diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy at birth.  Paul is proud of his disability culture.

Paul has had a successful career in private enterprise, including two years in banking and 33 years in a variety of positions with a private-sector public utility.  In addition, Paul was an instructor at Memorial University for over 30 years. Currently, he is Chief Executive Officer of the Autism Society of Newfoundland and Labrador where he leads a staff of over 20 professionals dedicated to serving those with autism, those who love them, and those who work with them.

Paul is also an active volunteer, serving on a wide variety of boards and commissions.  His main areas of interest in his voluntary work are disability rights, inclusion & diversity, social justice and human rights. He is past-Chair of the St. John’s Transportation Commission, a member of the Royal St. John’s Regatta Committee, and an active church volunteer.

Please let me know what you think of this conversation!  Some of the themes we explore include:

• How disability intersects with medical assistance in dying

• Strategies we can consider as we navigate this very complex topic - disability and the right to choose

• What makes letting people make their own decisions so polarizing?

• How compassion and control seem to be mutually exclusive, and what that means for disability and the right to choose

As always, much gratitude to Inspiring Communities for supporting season 1 of this podcast series. If you liked this episode, please share it and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!  We have some exciting polarizing conversations coming up in the rest of the season - I sincerely hope you’ll join me on this journey of finding common ground on some of the most difficult topics of our time.