McCormick Taylor, Inc.’s Post

Our lived experiences as Black and Brown women with disabilities make us the best people to sit at tables where policies and other disability inclusion discussions are being held. Nothing about us without us, Include us! #DisabilityInclusion #Representtion #ReresentationMatters #DivasWithDisabilities   #AccessiBe #InventWithUsInMind #NothingAboutUsWithoutUs #WhenYouSeeUsIncludeUs #DisabilityAdvocacy    #DisabilityAwareness #BlackWomenWithDisabilities #RemoveTheBarriers Image Description:  A peach background graphic with a headshot of Donna R. Walton, a Black woman smiling broadly with long curly black hair wearing red lipstick and a black and white polka dot blouse. The headshot is on a grey background. Text: Take time to listen to the needs and concerns of individuals with disabilities in the Black community and be open to learning from their experiences. Donna R. Walton EdD Founder & President of Divas With Disabilities There’s the accessiBe Logo in blue font below the text.

As we reflect on Disability Pride Month, we recognize how society often looks down on those who are disabled and proud. This reflection brings to mind how Black joy is perceived, particularly in professional settings. Black joy, much like disability pride, is often viewed through a lens of misunderstanding and bias. In the workplace, expressions of joy and pride can sometimes be met with discomfort or dismissal, making it challenging for individuals to fully embrace their identity. For those living at the intersection of being Black and disabled, expressing joy is not just an act of resistance—it is an assertion of their right to be seen, heard, and valued. Their joy is a testament to their resilience and a powerful statement against the systemic barriers they face. Creating spaces where Black disabled individuals can express their joy freely and authentically is crucial. It fosters a more inclusive and supportive environment where everyone can thrive. We'd love for you to share your moments of Black disabled joy at work with us in the comments. Your stories are important, and they help build a community of support and understanding. Photo courtesy Disabled Here and Now [Image description: A gradient green background. The NAMED Advocates logo is in the top right. The photo on the left is of three Black and disabled friends (a non-binary person with a cane and tangle stim toy, a non-binary person sitting in a power wheelchair, and an invisibly disabled femme) smiling and taking a cell phone selfie together. On the right, the white text reads: Black disabled joy is an act of resistance.] #NAMEDAdvocates #DEI #DEIA #Consulting #DisabilityPrideMonth #BlackJoy #Intersectionality #BlackAndDisabled #InclusionMatters #DiversityInTheWorkplace #EmbraceYourIdentity #AuthenticExpression #SystemicChange #InclusiveWorkplaces #BIPOCDisabilityJustice #BlackDisabledJoy

This month, we celebrate Disability Pride Month to promote inclusion and raise awareness.   Symbolism of the Disability Pride flag:   🔹 The Black Field: This represents disabled individuals who have lost their lives not only due to their illnesses but also because of negligence, suicide, and eugenics.    🔹 The Lightning Bolt: The shape symbolizes the non-linear lives many disabled people lead, often having to adapt themselves or their paths to navigate an inaccessible society.    🔹 The Colors: Each color on the flag represents a different aspect of disability or impairment:   ✨ Blue: Mental illness   ✨ Yellow: Cognitive and intellectual disabilities   ✨ Green: Sensory perception disabilities   For any support accommodation or core support requests, contact us on: I-Help Disability Services 📞 1300 004 337 📧 info@ihds.com.au 🌐 i-helpdisability.com.au   #disabilitypride #disabilityawareness #disabilityawareness #disabilityrights #disabilityadvocate #disabilityinclusion #inclusion #disabilitymelbourne

July is #DisabilityPrideMonth. People with disabilities—both visible and invisible—constitute the world’s largest minority group. “Disability Pride is celebrated in July as a result of the passage of  the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), signed into law on July 26, 1990. But the history of civil rights protections for people with disabilities is older than the ADA. In 1973, discrimination against those with disabilities became illegal with the passage of Section 504, and its addition to the Rehabilitation Act. It was the first legislation that addressed the minoritization of all people with disabilities. However, its protections only extended to employers who received federal funding.” Get out there (or however you wish to) and celebrate the tremendous diversity, achievements, and history that the disability community has delivered to the world over! Source: Columbia Climate School Direct URL: https://lnkd.in/gixGKaJ6

Check out Baker Consulting's latest blog post, The Intersection of Race and Disability: A Call to Action for DEI Practitioners! For DEI practitioners, the intersection of race and disability presents a critical opportunity to confront systemic inequities head-on. Black Americans with disabilities face compounded marginalization, often navigating both ableism and racism in their daily lives. A report by the National Disability Institute found that only 20.8% of Black individuals with disabilities are employed, compared to 39.4% of white individuals with disabilities. As activist and author Alice Wong states, "Disability justice is a revolutionary framework that centers the leadership of disabled people of color and queer and gender non-conforming disabled people". By embracing this framework, DEI professionals can drive meaningful change that uplifts the most marginalized communities. At Baker Consulting, we believe that DEI work is a professional responsibility and a moral imperative. Our READI2B framework equips DEI practitioners with the knowledge, tools, and support to drive transformative change. We offer comprehensive training programs, strategic planning services, and ongoing guidance to help organizations embed intersectionality into their DEI efforts. We also facilitate community partnerships and provide resources to support the personal and professional development of DEI practitioners. We invite you to join our community of changemakers, to learn from one another, and to collectively build a more equitable world. Reach out to us today to embark on this critical journey. https://lnkd.in/gJa_m-jZ

Please consider DEI when thinking disability and think long and hard as we celebrate Disability Pride Month. As a 40 year HR veteran I spent my adult life serving the HR community. 3 years ago I was paralyzed on my left side from the waist down. No medical professional knows why or what happened. I am still just as, maybe more, competent than I was before. I have learned new ways to exceed my own expectations. So when interviewing candidates or considering folks for promotions don't make your decision on one experience with the disabled candidate. Ask the right job related questions. Listen carefully. Involve others in the decision making.

From elementary school classrooms to adult care homes, so many of our care structures for disabled people are designed without their participation, often in direct opposition to their stated desires. But why? Lauren Schrero Levy, a disability rights advocate and lawyer, shares with Alida what she has learned since founding the disability advocacy nonprofit The Nora Project and serving as a civil rights lawyer at Equip for Equality. Listen: https://hubs.ly/Q02l4vxM0 Together, they explore the challenges in our current institutions for people with disabilities and the promise of inclusive spaces. Discover Lauren’s insights on honoring the dignity of every person: 💡The reasons behind society’s segregation of people with disabilities 💡The negative impact of remaining uninformed on conversations around inclusivity 💡Opposing viewpoints among parents of children with disabilities 💡The innate hope and usefulness of interdependence Listen: https://hubs.ly/Q02l4vxM0

🌟 July is Disability Pride Month! 🌟 This month, we celebrate the incredible diversity and strength of the disability community. Disability Pride Month commemorates the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, a landmark ruling that prohibits discrimination against disabled people and promotes equal opportunities for all. The Disability Pride flag is a powerful symbol of this month. Each color on the flag holds special significance: 💚 Green is for sensory disabilities. 💙 Blue represents emotional and psychiatric disabilities. 🤍 White stands for non-visible and undiagnosed disabilities. 💛 Gold is for neurodiversity. ❤️ Red represents physical disabilities. 🖤 Black symbolizes mourning for those who have suffered from ableist violence, rebellion, and protest, and those who have lost their lives to illness, suicide, negligence, and eugenics. Uplift the voices and stories of those with differing abilities, recognizing their invaluable contributions to our society. Disability does not mean inability! #DisabilityPrideMonth #ADA #Inclusion #AccessibilityForAll #CelebrateDiversity #DEIBA

World Institute on Disability remembers Brad Lomax, a disability rights activist, who helped lead the 504 Sit-in in San Francisco. Explore the powerful intersection of Black disabled history and Black History Month, shedding light on often overlooked achievements that hold the potential to drive systemic change for present and future generations of disabled individuals worldwide by reading this blog post by Dikko Yusuf: https://lnkd.in/gMHJvmvB

Today marks the 47th anniversary of the end of the 1977 Section 504 protests, a historical effort between people with different disabilities coming together in support of legislation that affected the overall disability population. The sit-in was pivotal in getting strong 504 regulations signed that embodied concepts of equality and integration, and the affirmative steps that must be taken to achieve that for people with disabilities. DRC would like to highlight and thank Assemblymember Jones-Sawyer for introducing resolution ACR 179, a measure that would provide that members of the legislature organize a group to advance visibility, access, opportunity, and equity for individuals with disabilities by centering their voices and experiences. The measure would also proclaim April 28, 2024, as a day for all Californians to acknowledge the contributions of individuals with disabilities, to honor the changes achieved in the past to establish the rights of disabled individuals, and to recognize the work remaining in the future to secure equity for disabled individuals. Learn more about ACR 179 here: https://lnkd.in/g7b_irg8