Why do we have disability pride?
The answer goes down to finding our identity and feeling good about ourselves. It also serves to promote the need for diversity and encourage others to embrace it.
Time for a personal reflection on it.
Finding yourself is a lot harder when you are someone who doesn’t fit with normal social expectations. I have seen firsthand how it is to feel helpless and struggled to do things that others find easy.
It took away my sense of self, belief in my skills and ability to be resilient. Being disabled can also leave people feeling burdened, and alone.
As humans progress, I believe we will one day change society so we can be included better.
This will lead to more willingness to hire disabled workers, and more role models that show disability in positive light.
Right now, disabled are often viewed in media with certain stereotypes. These include superheroes and villains, vulnerable people who can’t manage, or miraculous healers. None of these are positive images that show a good picture of disabled lives.
So, think about the disabled people around you, and who they want to be.
Beth writes 