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Our Voices Count Web Image

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A collage of people holding up signs at the “Our Voices Count!” rally in front of the Bridge Of Remembrance.

Community report: Christchurch fights back in protest to funding cuts

Emily Coull
By Emily Coull

Emily Coull was impressed by the strong turnout at the “Our Voices Count!” rally in Ōtautahi and hopes positive change will come for her community.

  • Community report: Christchurch disability communities protest funding cuts
    Emily Coull
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  • Emily is a self-advocate from Christchurch who lives with Asperger’s and dyspraxia. She enjoys writing fantasy stories to escape reality, and is obsessed with ladybirds. This is her first article on The D*List.

    My name is Emily Coull. I am 28 years old and I have dyspraxia and Asperger’s. Two of my favourite things I love to do are writing stories and doing art.

    I attended the “Our Voices Count!” Disability Rally in Christchurch on December 7th at the Bridge Of Remembrance. It was organised by Disability Leadership Canterbury. We marched from the Bridge Of Remembrance along Cashel Street with our fighting chants “Nothing about us without us!” and “Stand up, fight back!” We then stopped at High Street for the speeches. The speakers Prudence Walker and Shane McInroe had strong messages for us to keep fighting back against these unfair and unnecessary cuts to funding for the most vulnerable people in our society. After the speeches, we marched back to the Bridge Of Remembrance while also chanting. There were some speeches of gratitude and then we all went on our ways.

Image description: Two people holding up signs that read "Disabling good lives." and  "Put INDIVIDUALS back into the heart of INDIVIDUAL FUNDING". Photo credit: Emily Coull

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  • I decided to attend the rally because I worry that the funding cuts could affect my activities I do - like Inclusive Performance Academy, gymnastics and Skillwise - and they could stop for good. I thought of my friends who have been affected by it or could get affected by it. I think this idea that the Government is doing is not OK and it shouldn’t be happening. There are other things they could focus on other than funding cuts to the disability community.

    It was sad to hear about StarJam closing as so many people loved doing StarJam and everyone could show their amazing talents when they were at StarJam. I did StarJam a couple of years ago and it was so much fun as I got to sing and dance. My good friend Tasha went to the rally and she was very sad about StarJam closing as it made her cry talking about it. She had been doing StarJam for a very long time and she was so happy going to StarJam and she loved doing her singing at StarJam and met so many friends there.

Image description: A group of people holding up signs at the rally. The signs read "DISABILITY SUPPORT ISN'T A PRIVILEGE. IT'S A HUMAN RIGHT?" and "DISABILITY RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS!" Photo credit: Emily Coull

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  • At the rally, everyone was able to express how they were feeling towards the funding cuts. I loved all the support from all the people who came. The White Room made signs that had different sayings on them for the rally which was a fantastic idea.

    Despite it being a scorching hot day it was a good turn out on a busy Christmas Saturday. It was an amazing event and there was a great feeling of support and fellowship. It was good to see friends and Skillwise staff and lots of other supporters for this cause. I am looking forward to a good outcome as a result of the outcry for these crazy funding cuts.

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