06/12/2026
Story by Council Member Melissa Belviso
This is my story is about my shared experience with my disability (and how that, even if someone has any kind of disability they can contribute and create wonderful change in the world) and that having a disability isn’t a bad thing.
I would like everyone to know (including people living with disabilities and their families) that a disability is a beautiful thing no matter how others define it. I’d like to say it comes with obstacles but I as well as all other people like me have the right to ask for the supports and services that we need to live happy and fulfilling lives so we can thrive to the fullest. Patience and time is the most important part of supporting people with disabilities.
Now I would love to talk and share things about my disability and how having my disability taught me to never give up on myself or others so I can advocate for all the rights of people -- like me letting them know that we are all in the same shoes.
I also want to talk about how proud I am of the person that I am today and how proud I am of my family and my support workers who always support me through my continuous accomplishments in my life and my job at Tim Horton's that I have had since a high school co-op in my teen years, to getting the job when I finished high school, to now being 30 and still having amazing support at work for 12 years being there. Another thing that is also amazing about me is that having my disability allows me and many others to create life-long goals for each other and the guidance and supports is my motto to living the best life possible.
My mom and dad both knew from the day I was born that I had a disability because I lost oxygen at birth and I also had a twin brother. Both of my parents were scared because they didn’t know what would happen to me, and all of the judgemental comments from people. I would love to tell people that even having a disability you are always able to do what you want to do and thrive at anything you want to learn. Pace doesn’t matter but having patience and a positive mind is so important.
I would also love to tell people not to judge me because perfection is not a definition but following your goals and dreams is something that will always help you, and working hard is such an amazing thing . My family put a lot of time and hard work and effort in supporting me and helping me along my journey even when the fights were hard: A lot of days they never gave up on me, they created me as the amazing woman I am today. I am proud of the people in my life to say that they made me an advocate -- because my goal since I was small is to become a support worker or to go to college to become a developmental service worker to work with people with disabilities.
My diagnosis when I was born is a neurodivergent developmental disability and poor muscle tone and I am also on the autism spectrum, and was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome in my toddler years. But I wouldn’t change my life for the world because I am surrounded by such amazing family and support staff because now I am able to make improvements. To help each other is my goal in life and I want to let people know that they're not alone, that so many people have disabilities in this world that a disability is beautiful. I want to create a strong community to help give people the best life and to help guide people living the same lives like me that there is always hope.
I would love to thank you all for allowing me to brighten all of your days and I hope that all of you listen to this story and have an open mind and I hope everyone keeps on accomplishing their goals and never gives up and always keep dreaming big and strong and remember disability is not a bad thing it is a beautiful thing.
