SICβs Career Spotlight: Dee Smith
This article was originally posted on our sister site, The SIC Learning Hub.
Dee Smith is an Actress, model and writer living with Friedreichs Ataxia. We sat down with her for a chat in the lead up to her debut at London Fashion Week for the adaptive fashion brand Unhidden!
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
Iβm Dee. Iβm 25 with a rare disease called Friedreichs Ataxia (FA) (Think like MS but slower). Iβm a creative, and have been since before my disability. Since a young age, Iβve done acting, writing, painting and now modelling.
Was this the career that you had always planned? If not, how did you end up getting into it?
I fell into this career after a break-up at 19, where I did a boudoir photoshoot and posted the images. All of a sudden photographers from my city wanted to work with me. When I was diagnosed with FA a few months later, I used modelling to find myself and my beauty again now that my body and mind changed in an instant. Turns out other people needed inspiration and to feel less alone too!
What qualifications and experience do you need to get into this field?
None. But I have a BTECH in Performing Arts, an undergraduate degree in Creative Writing and a postgraduate degree in Psychology. I wanted to hone my varied crafts as well as learn about myself and others. I always want to know more. Iβm currently signed up to do an online course in Egyptology at Yale University.
What barriers did you face in this career due to your disability?
Toxic stereotypes of ableism from people assuming what disabled people can and should do, how we can pose, what we should wear and look like. This comes from a lack of education and not seeing disabled people enough to consider us as a βnormalβ part of society.
What strengths does your disability give you in this career?
A thick skin. Iβve experienced discrimination and heard assumptions before. I love to prove them wrong.
If you could give one piece of advice to others with a disability wanting to enter this career, what would it be?
Do it! Hatred and bias stems from a lack of education and fear. It's their problem, not yours. No one can make you feel anything without your consent. Know who you are and be proud of it.
