Disability Pride Month

I love to spend July on the road enjoying summer break with my family. It is a good time to appreciate the places made accessible since the ADA was passed while also thinking about the challenges ahead.

Disability Pride Month allows us to accept and honor how each person is unique, as well as see the beautiful part of human diversity that it is. Disabilities range very broadly from person to person, so it is important to honor those advocates that came before us. Each accommodation that is implemented is because someone with a disability fought for their rights. This is true for physical disabilities AND mental disabilities. It is so important to change the stigma around disabilities and be aware of the barriers around us!

I celebrate this month by recognizing the ongoing fight for disability justice. By watching films like Crip Camp and engaging in conversations about how disability affects our work in higher education, I am reminded about how important it is that we continue to create accessible spaces. The only way to increase access is to include many different voices at the table and celebrate the unique ways to know and to be in the world. For me, Disability Pride month is a celebration of different bodies and minds and a recognition that those differences make us stronger!

I did not get diagnosed with dyslexia until I was well into my 30s. My whole life I believed that I was dumb. I struggled with the belief that once people knew me they would see that I was dumb and a phony. Receiving my diagnosis was important and helped me better understand myself. I have found ways to be successful in both school and work. I know I am not dumb! Celebrating Disability Pride means no longer having shame about my abilities!!

To be honest, this is the first time I've heard about this month and what it celebrates; but, learning more about it from sources like the internet, colleagues, web training, etc. really has opened my eyes to the world that is 'Accessibility for all' and the ADA Act. I am finding ways how to be aware of the various challenges one might incur and what I can do about it; like making sure I write/communicate in a manner suited for the audience, when/where I schedule meetings, taking note of physical surroundings that may pose barriers, etc. Still learning but still trying!

I like taking time aside to read and absorb material related to Disability Pride Month when I can because it's a topic I am still learning about. I find myself following accounts on social media of those who advocate for disabilities and resharing, commenting, or liking the content so my inner circle can become aware too. Inclusion matters. So when I see a business or a person providing accommodations to everyone, whether that be an accessible picnic table at the park or a quiet space in a crowded area, I make sure to send my positive comments to those responsible.

Disability Pride Month, like all celebration months, is a another reminder of how amazing we all are in our differences. In this case, differences in physical and mental abilities. I think a lot about how our differences should bring us together. All pieces of the same puzzle in life. One area I love about my job is being able to integrate universal design in everything I create and continually learning about the best way to accommodate and advance.

Growing up with a disability, there was always a concern about the limitations that my condition would place on my life and general happiness. Disability Pride Month in July is a perfect time to reflect on the many places I've been and look forward to all the places that I will go. And this year, I'd like to remember Judy Heumann and say thanks for continuing to play such a big role in the lives of so many people with disabilities.