Dwayne Shaw originated from an economically challenging background and moved to Toronto in 1995 without any family support, no contacts, and only fifty dollars in his pocket. While facing multiple and compounding social oppressions and material deprivation as a gay/queer cis-gender male, living with numerous invisible disabilities from a lower socio-economic class. This has profoundly impacted his life chances, his health, and his emotional life. Despite these challenges Dwayne has survived and found his way through various social services employment and some 30-plus years of community-based activism. Dwayne is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree within the Disability Studies Program at the Toronto Metropolitan University.