-
Thoughts About Disability Pride Month
Hey everyone, hope you’re all doing well!
July is recognized as Disability Pride Month, as it coincides with the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. I’ve written about this topic before in my column. I recently did an Instagram post about this, and I wanted to share it here.
“July is Disability Pride Month, so I’m kind of obligated to make a post about the importance of accepting disability, both personally and in society.
Growing up, I didn’t have a full grasp of what ableism was, but I remember feeling awkward anytime people stared or strangers asked me questions like “what happened?” I also remember getting legit angry watching an episode of Kim Possible in which a wheelchair user freaked Kim out and made her really uncomfortable. Good show, but even as a kid I had a knack for analyzing disability representation in pop culture.
While I’m blessed to have family and friends who support me and who understand that my disability is nothing to be ashamed of or pitied for, I still encounter numerous stigmas and prejudices in the world at large. Many examples come to mind, such as when two dudes prayed for me to be “healed” in a movie theater a few years ago, literally right before the trailers started. Another is when a lady approached me in the waiting room of my PT clinic to ask me if I thought about walking one day. Pretty sure I was thinking about what to eat on the way home, so I hated to disappoint her.
All this to say, disability is not a bad word. It’s something I embrace as a key part of my identity. Is my life filled with challenges and have I dealt with periods of emotional and mental distress? Yes and yes. Yet, no matter the hard stuff, I wouldn’t trade my disabled life or my disabled community for the world.”
What do you think about Disability Pride Month? Do you agree with this notion? Do you disagree with the concept? I’d love to hear your thoughts.