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Em Main Image

Image description

Em Berry wears black and holds a walking stick. The background features a broken chain and different textures ripped up. Design: Becki Moss

Em Berry on their cane as a powerful communication tool

Becki Moss
By Becki Moss

Em Berry (they/she) is a takatāpui poet and artist based in Tāmaki Makaurau. As someone with various invisible disabilities, their walking stick not only helps steady them when standing for a long time but also acts as a communication tool if they faint or have a medical event in public.

  • Custom Club is a six-part video series about mobility aids and the liberation they represent, produced by Becki Moss and created in partnership with Independent Living.

  • Read the the transcript of the video of Em below.

    [Becki: What freedom or liberation has your mobility aid given you?]

    Em: So for me, the most liberating thing about having my cane with me and walking with my cane, is the conversations that I don't have to have. If I am laying on the street for example, which does happen sometimes, there's a little bit of context that's given.

    So the visual indicator, that there's something else going on with my mobility. It's more of a standing aid than a walking aid. Like, I can walk pretty well. So it's heavy for that reason. So it gives me the freedom to be able to, like, be where I want to be.

    But also just making me feel grounded. Being physically in touch with the Earth. But yeah, the main thing is, it's a form of communication in that sense.

    [Becki: Tell us about the customisations you’ve made, and why?]

    Em: It was actually my Grandmother's, and it is the antler from a reindeer and rimu.

    Because they are made of bone and native wood. I have not made any customisations, but sometimes I do put a small Falasteeni flag or te kara Tino Rangatiratanga. And sometimes I have a little bell, but fell off.

Image description: Em has long hair, tattoos and is wearing black. They stand confidently with a wooden cane in front of a white house with red steps and plants.

  • Em 1

Image description: Em is smiling with long hair and tattoos, and stands against a green metal garage door.

  • Em 2

Image description: Em wears black and has tattoos; they stand confidently in front of a green garage door, holding a wooden cane. Greenery surrounds the scene.

  • Em 3
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