Caroline Casey

Witnessing the recent escalation of the decades-long siege in Gaza—where international laws are ignored, peaceful humanitarians bringing aid are abducted, children are dying and being massacred, most mainstream media are not reporting the truth and reality of Genocide, Ethnic Cleansing, Famine, and Murder, makes it impossible to remain silent on social media. I have never been very active on social media and was fearful of posting now as I feel so ill informed and inept and because nothing I could say or write will be adequate. But in my personal capacity, adding my voice, to the global roar against this incomprehensible rupture of humanity - something we are all being asked to do, by the people of Palestine, and by the countless humanitarians working with and for them, matters so much now. As a disability activist for 25 years, I’ve always fought for personal freedom and truth. I have challenged that “you can’t have ‘à la carte’ inclusion; inclusion is either for everyone or not at all.” I need to practice what I challenged others to do and be accountable because the absolute same stands for peace, freedom, safety, equity, human rights, and self -determination. Though I have much to learn and understand, it does not mean I can not speak from my heart, and hear and act on what we are being asked to do. I have such profound respect to the millions who raise their voices, the brave souls on the front lines and for those educating us on the truth. Thank you. I am so proud to be Irish and so grateful for the countless of our citizens fighting without condition to free Palestine and for the decades of commitment they have given. This fight is for our global humanity. We must continue donating, protesting, and demanding action from our leaders while supporting frontline advocates through listening, learning, questioning, posting and sharing.

#skyfullofstars The sky took my breath away at the end of an incredible week in Southern Australia. I often speak, as I did at @ausdisabilitynetwork event during the week, that our only hope of ending the global exclusion of disability, requires all of us, doing our piece, being accountable with and for ourselves and each other; not to make another wrong to fight for what is right and for us to work with our individual light to create a force that can not be dimmed. I asked them to play "sky full of stars" as I closed the conference because it is one of the ideas that captures for me the principle behind the @thevaluable500 and the energy behind radical collaboration - the unstoppable transformation of working together. There are photos included here of some of the great collaborators and lights that I got to be with who individually are bloomin amazing and together, relentless. DESCRIPTION 10 photos from a week in Southern Australia. The first images are of the extraordinary pink and purple colours of the Southern Light in the night sky in Victoria in Southern Australia followed by photos of amazing human beings attending the @ausdisabilitynetwork conference to end disability exclusion through business. #nevergiveup #radicalcollaboration #lightup #businessdisabilityinclusion #ownyourlight

Despite the November publication and pre order of @carriewalkerauthor #escapetotheswisschalet - it is only now I have turned the last page. It has been a time of huge change these past several months which has required every ounce of focus. But finally, I had the space to read, and this book was top of my pile. So..... you all know I am emotional, something I no longer apologise for, so yep, it's an emotional response. This wee book unexpectedly filled my heart for 2 reasons : 1. The writing is genuinely joyful, sensuous, playful and conjuring. To be honest, this is not my genre and so I was caught off guard as I willingly travelled with Holly along her adventure licking my lips and smiling all the way. What delighted me most was the mouth watering food and wine descriptions (I mean they were simply amazing - foodies take note ) and the immersive and tantalising descriptions of Ski Chalet life (I kid you not I have now badgered a friend who lives in Switzerland to help me finally learn a life long ambition to ski). So whether romcom is or is not your thing, I recommend you grab a copy because this will make you simply feel good...... and Holly will be escaping again - but no spoilers. Mum is half way through her copy here with a big grin too. 2. This book is testament to a person fighting for their dream; for not giving up or giving in; for trying everything and for taking risks. I am so happy that Carrie has finally written the beginning of HER dream with this first publication and I can't wait to see where she goes next, but I put my bets on many books to come, and maybe even a film script or TV series. Reading this could not have come at a better time reminding me that the heart wants what the heart wants. Happy reading. #escape #romcombooks #writing #foodie #debutwriter #dream

The moments we live for...... when you can't imagine your heart could feel so much love. On Sept 29 at 2.32 pm on a Harvest Moon in Chicago Gar's beautiful daughter Niamh gave birth to Seamus Patrick Lee. The love and pride I feel for both Niamh and Cullen and how they have brought this little person into the world is hard to explain or express. The love I feel watching Seamus' grandad, Papa G look at his new grandson and be overwhelmed with emotion and love is simply beautiful. And as for me, the luckiest person ever, I am now a step granny called Ci Ci - I just can't quite explain the wonder and how unbelievably grateful and honoured I feel to be part of this family, our family, our kin, as it grows and evolves. I will never ever forget this past week in Chicago. I feel as if my world has shifted by witnessing the magic of new life, the love of new parents and watching Gar hold the next generation. It was as if the extended Indian summer sun captured the glow and warmth of these precious moments. But beyond anything I honour the grace, strength, power, beauty and miracle of Niamh, and of all women who bring life into this world. I stand in love and awe. PS..... Unicorns are a great way to get practice on trying to work out how to tie the swaddle wrap🙈🦄 IMAGE DESCRITPION 10 pictures of the week that Seamus Patrick Lee was born. The first image is a black and white picture of Niamh kissing Seamus in hospital a few hours after his birth. Other images include Cullen holding Seamus, Gar holding Seamus, Seamus asleep in his buggy with the Chicago skyline behind him and the last image is me trialing out how to tie the carrier with a Unicorn cuddly toy. #love #life #birth #baby #grandparents

Returning to Dublin after being away for so many months has felt strange. So this place, this water, this sky and the unique sanctuary of feeling the city from the sea has been magical. The joy of friendships, the chats, the walking, the unbeatable post swim treats, the new connections, laughing, the silence, the light and all the things to come...... I have a feeling that the past few days mark some threshold or the end of a beginning or the beginning of an end. Either way this beautiful ritual of swimming in the Irish Sea, in the middle of this city has been a glorious reminder of the bloody brilliance of simple things and the importance of letting go. #poolbeg #poolbeglighthouse #seaswimming #sea #cominghome

And here she is again….. That big full voluptuous supermoon shinning her light on our newly named #moonmeadow. We have been dancing with this lady every July in a field in #Umbria #Italy for 3 years. This year, we decided to do the full moon bath and sleep out to combat heat of day - who needs air coolers when you got the night sky?? Dare I say it, we got cool at 23C. Laughing my head off @carlmullan recent posts of July and August at home so so funny - who ever thought 2 Irish yokes would find above 20 degrees chilly🙈 #fullmoon #italy #light #moonmeadow

A rare promethium soul whose courage, light, truth and conviction was incomparable. To all of those who knew her, loved her, were touched by her; her family and friends - if we who witnessed from the sidelines are deeply affected, I can’t imagine what it may be for you. Sending love. And grateful, so grateful to have grown up with this warrior of light. 💗💗💗 #truth

Judy Heumann, the mother of Disability Human Rights died yesterday. It feels incomprehensible that this extraordinary light is no longer amongst us. She meant so much to so many, so so many and the love, respect and admiration for her is evident in the thousands of messages. I don’t know how she made all of us feel special, seen and heard. How did she find the time to advise, mentor, support, challenge and care for all of us? I can’t wrap my mind around a world without her in it. Her support of @thevaluable500 was endless and all the times before when I was close to giving up she said - go harder. We all have stories of the incredible human being she was and what she meant to us but I want to send love to those closest to her, to her husband Jorge, @theheumannperspective her endless friends and those she was like a second mother to. Judy, we will continue to fight fiesty hoping that you will look on with that mischievous smile and fierce heart. While there are few who could ever achieve what you have done we will build on your work and shine that light further and further and further… Thank you amazing human❤️❤️❤️ Xxx IMAGE DESCRIPTION A series of photos of Judy close up smiling that memorable smile from her early activist years to the present day. The 6 images include the cover of her book The “Being Heumann” and a quote - one of my favourite reading “I wanna see feisty disabled people change the world”

#InclusionMeansAction I know it is only a day, and we live every day with a world not designed to include difference… but it is a day that should act as a global reckoning, a day that asks us to be accountable; a day that asks us “am I doing anything? Am I doing enough?” It is a day that we roar together to leave no one behind. It is a day that we come face to face with our humanity. It is a day that we must acknowledge what is being done is the unyielding belief and demand that more will be done and that we all remember as Yazmin Laroche said in 2019 - “nothing without us” So… please listen to this amazing episode of @gemmahgreaves new podcast #areyousittinguncomfortably with @sophlmorg https://areyousittinguncomfortably.lnk.to/podcastGG …..and watch @apple film on #accessibility #thegreatest https://youtu.be/8sX9IEHWRJ8 …and check out @thevaluable500 #generationvaluable first 75 leaders of the c-suite of tomorrow💜💜💜 Of course it is not enough, it could never be, but we have to believe simple actions done millions of times, can and will change the gross inequity facing so many on #idpd2022 #accessibilityforall #inclusion #disability #all

There are NO words that capture the beauty, talent and glory of the combined talent of the artists who made @truecolorsfestival #tcf2022 magnificent. And I do not say that lightly. It is honestly one of the best produced shows I have seen I what seems like a forever. Huge congratulations to everyone and to The Nippon Foundation and @ichirokabasawa for the vision and backing. The production was world class and the artists unmatched. It is now my ambition to ensure this creativity is witnessed by @thevaluable500 companies and I have been plotting a plan on the plane home. @viktoriamodesta has always been a massive talent to me, so to see her on the stage nearly had me leaping out of my seat, and then to see the fabulous @mandyharvey who I shared a stage with a long time ago @reelabilitieshouston was just a joy. But every talent on that stage was uniquely wonderful but the curation of them together was brilliance. I went excited to see @katyperry and though it was wonderful to be so close to see her and be reminded of the journey to here, it was the new talent that stole my heart. But that said, @katyperry you still made me roar in my heart and you always will. So this is for those of us who have visions, dreams, ideas, stories and plans that we hold on our hearts. Keep your heart roaring, don’t give up, even when others might give up on you, or stop believing. Just look around and see those that love and believe in you and keep the magic in your heart alive. Because “baby you’re a firework……”

I can’t believe I am actually going to meet this woman @katyperry Many of her songs made up the “mixed tape” of getting through a horrible divorce. #firework was one of my top “dance to the door” songs every morning of that time. And can you believe it, 13 years later I get to see & meet her as a proud ambassador #truecolorsfestival Just bought my @joannehynes #pinkboots and #bluesparklediscopants for the occasion - #truetomyself This concert is a celebration of diversity and inclusion. Performances, collaborations, original film content, moments of connection that remind us that we are ‘One World, One Family. And it is about celebrating the whole of ourselves, our true selves, all that we are and can be. The concert will provide a suite of accessibility features that will enable as many people as possible to experience the concert in different ways. Check out the event below on 19th & 20th Nov /c/TrueColorsFestival/ #tcftheconcert2022 #truecolorsfestival #thenipponfoundation #oneworldonefamily ⁠ Alt Text [IMAGE DESCRIPTION] In comments section

“Be yourself and **** the ********” - Dad’s take on Oscar Wilde’s famous quote “Be yourself because everyone else is taken” And with his big fierce outlier heart he lived those words right until the end and drove me hard to never do less than that” Six years ago around this exact time, coming up to 1pm, we had our last conversation where he reminded me again, pulling me close for that final hug. I will never forget it; we will never forget him. And I miss him. Sometimes now, more than those first few months and I miss those hugs. He was the best hugger in the world. So, Dad, I am gonna go out and find me the best biggest tree to hug for you. Text Image: An old black and white photo of me sitting on the shoulders of my Dad in the 70s standing in front of a boat on a lake. #dad #missyou #hug