July is Disability Pride Month, a month dedicated to promoting awareness, acceptance, and empowerment of people with disabilities. We also take this opportunity to recognize the attitudes and barriers that continue to limit our full participation in society.
This month, the Minnesota Council on Disability highlights the unique experiences and perspectives of people within our community.
A guest blog post by Lauren Thompson, disability rights advocate:
Is it good to have a disability? It certainly doesn’t feel that way when I’m in pain or when I’m denied the freedom to exist in spaces that don’t physically accommodate me.
Is it bad to have a disability? It certainly doesn’t feel that way when it has caused me to meet amazing people and live a unique life.
I have had chronic health problems all my life. So, there’s that stuff. And then there’s living life with that identity. The identity of a disabled person. That’s me. I use a wheelchair all day, every day. I have the official disability parking placard. I have caregivers who help me do what I need to do, every day.
When strangers see me there is often an instant reaction; although, the reactions vary. It’s a mix of “Wow, it’s great to see you,” “I’m sorry,” and “It’s a blessing.”
Reactions are predominately well-intentioned, but—quite honestly—they have caused something of an existential crisis for me.
I’ve felt this pressure to define my disability by extremes, in one way or another. Either find the blessing and love it or find the curse and fix it. As if there is no middle. But I feel like there is. We are in the middle right now.
We have some inclusion, some rights. But we are still very much caged in by barriers that exist. There’s ableism that still needs to be dismantled.
Everybody needs access. Everybody needs inclusion. Everybody needs diversity. These are not special needs; these are human needs.
Acknowledging our disabilities, our needs, is vital to our humanity. This helps us take pride in our authentic selves. When we can do this, society becomes more vibrant and inclusive.
It’s not easy by any means, but everybody is worth it. Every body.