July is Disability Pride Month held to commemorate the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) which was signed into law on July 26, 1990. I teamed up with Oladoyin, Gem Turner, and Sarah Todd Hammer, CPACC for a new episode of Smarter in Seconds all about disability.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and World Health Organization, disabilities may affect a person’s vision, hearing, mobility, cognition (thinking, memory, learning, understanding), behavior, mental health, communication, and more.
A disability may make it more difficult to do certain activities. But tools like mobility aids and assistive technology can help make everyday life more accessible.
A person could be born disabled or a disability could develop later in life. And some disabilities may be externally apparent but many more are considered to be ‘invisible disabilities' which is why it's so important to not make assumptions.
While self-advocacy and inclusion efforts are helping to fight ableism, disabled people are still mistreated, discriminated against, isolated, and stigmatized because of ableism.
And in the media disabilities are often mocked, stereotyped, and used as punchlines or plot devices. While other representations often reduce disabled people to objects of pity or what Stella Young coined as “inspiration porn.”
“The world’s first comprehensive declaration of equality for people with disabilities” did not happen until 34 years ago with the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act. This landmark legislation is the reason why July is commemorated as Disability Pride Month.
It's crucial to support disabled people year-round but don't miss out on celebrating Disability Pride Month! #SmarterInSeconds
