What is Disability Pride? We went to the Americans with disabilities website [LINK] for their definition: “Disability pride is defined as accepting and honoring each person’s uniqueness, and seeing it as a natural and beautiful part of human diversity. Disability pride is an integral part of an inclusive crusade and, furthermore, a direct challenge to systemic ableism and stigmatizing definitions of disability.”
The opposite of pride is shame, and sad as it is, there was a time when a person with a disability would be looked upon as “less than” or “broken” to the degree that they would feel shame. We are grateful that the ADA acknowledged the discrimination and offered respect and rights to individuals with disabilities. The article goes on to say… “It’s a time to recognize and celebrate the history, achievements, and struggles of people with disabilities. The ADA, a landmark civil rights law, prohibits discrimination based on disability, and Disability Pride Month is a way to honor its impact and promote disability culture and visibility.”
The History
Many of us can remember the ‘Capitol Crawl’ image referenced in this upcoming quote. Through the brilliant actions of activists, the public became aware of something as simple as ‘access’ for individuals with disabilities. From Wikipedia [LINK] we read:
“On March 12, 1990, over 1,000 people marched from the White House to the U.S. Capitol to demand that Congress pass the Americans with Disabilities Act. Upon arrival, about 60 activists, including eight-year-old Jennifer Keelan-Chaffins, physically demonstrated the inaccessibility of public spaces by getting out of their wheelchairs or setting aside their mobility aids and crawling up the Capitol steps in an act of civil disobedience that later became known as the Capitol Crawl. Police then arrested 104 activists for unlawful demonstration, many of whom were in their wheelchairs.”
Imagine that!! Children abandoning their wheelchairs and crawling up the steps of the Capitol. It happened and it had a profound impact. The activists, who were arrested (amazingly), actually achieved a profound change in our thinking and our culture. Today there are ramps for the wheelchairs and curb cuts in the sidewalks plus a whole lot of other means of assisting individuals with disabilities.
It was President George H. W. Bush who eventually signed the Americans with Disabilities Act into law. This Act prohibited discrimination in employment, public accommodations, transportation, government services of state and local governments and telecommunications. As pointed out by the activists, these protections were very much needed.
More About the Why
Once again we ask… why was there a need to not only protect people with disabilities from discrimination, but to uplift them as well, and change the way a disability is perceived? We went to Wikipedia for an answer as to the Why:
“Disability Pride Month celebrates people with disabilities, their identities, their culture, and their contributions to society. It also seeks to change the way people think about and define disability, to end the stigma of disability, and to promote the belief that disability is a natural part of human diversity in which people living with disabilities can celebrate and take pride. It is a chance for people with disabilities to come together and celebrate being themselves, no matter their differences. It is also a chance to raise awareness of the challenges they still face every day to be treated equally.”
Yes there is a reason for this commemoration and at AMS Fulfillment we join in to celebrate the fact that individuals with disabilities are now able to enjoy equal civil and human rights. May it continue and may every individual with a disability take pride in themselves and celebrate Life in all of its diversity.
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