What is dignity?

The Hopkins Centre Dignity Project’s first goal is to uncover the meaning of dignity as understood by people with disability. As part of this week’s Community Hub blog, we asked three people with disability, what dignity means to them and how they think dignity can be better preserved when interacting with medical services and support.

Jo Kek-Pamenter
“Dignity for me is being treated like everyone else and having the same opportunities and access as everyone else – without fear, embarrassment, being made feel different or guilty for speaking up and advocating for one’s self.”

Dr Riona Tindal
“Dignity is what I perceive as respect, being valued, seen as a person and valued member of the society, regardless of colour, culture, ability, and language."

Justin Hua
“Dignity is being accepted for who I am and being able to verbalise what I’m comfortable with or not, and expecting that people are not presumptuous or condescending towards me. Dignity can be preserved by actively engaging with the person with disability wherever possible, instead of their support worker, partner or care giver, thereby getting a more accurate representation of what they actually require, rather than assuming.”

 

Click here to read the full blog about dignity in the Community Hub.

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