Lived experience stories have become an important yet ambivalent tool for the recognition of disability. The transformative potential of lived experience stories to shape law, health, human services, and social work policy and practice is boundless. Yet, this potential is mediated on political commitment to listen to the voices in the community. Further, the ability of law and policy to become ‘active’ and uphold the human rights and agency of people with disabilities depends on attitudinal barriers that maintain ableist norms, institutions and practices. The paper will begin with an examination of policies, institutions, and laws that have been informed by the lived experience stories of people with disabilities, with attention
