Disability Pride originated in the USA and takes place every July. Its purpose is to promote inclusion, awareness and visibility of people living with disabilities. In this latest blog Mark, a disability and diversity campaigner who is recently medically retired, tells us about his attempts to celebrate Disability Pride month.
A little about me first if I may!
First symptoms?
Pins and needles down my entire left side for three days, in 1992.
Diagnosis?
2007
When I first said it out loud?
When requesting a Costa coffee be brought to my table as I was in my words, 'partially disabled'.
When I accepted it?
Perhaps 2009-ish
When I became a loud advocate?
These last five years or so
This month is Disability Pride Month. I’m proud to be disabled and work bloody hard to raise awareness, to ensure we are featured in every ‘diversity’ discussion. We are the largest minority by some way, but you wouldn’t think so from the lack of PLC/business action taken.
Yes, lots of us are being invited to speak on panels and keynotes. Lots of internal work with disabled colleagues is done by said PLCs and companies.
But contrast this with the amazing progress made with the LGBTQ+ pride month just gone. Lots of loud, proud company celebrations. Flags, marches, and events galore. Brilliant!
I went on Amazon to buy a 2023 disability flag. Nothing. I did spot something on Etsy. But the poor representation is so starkly contrasted with another deserving minority.
So, I bought a T-shirt instead. You can see me proudly sporting said t-shirt in the picture accompanying my blog.
The different colours of the disability flag represent the different ‘flavours’ of disability:
Bottom up:
- Red (physical disabilities)
- Gold (neurodivergence)
- White (invisible and undiagnosed disabilities)
- Blue (psychiatric disabilities)
- Green (sensory disabilities)
We are roughly 20% of the population. And customers. And lots of us are having rough rides. A bit of support from outside our bubble wouldn’t go amiss.
Mark talks more on this and other disability related issues on LinkedIn and his blog onemanandhiscatheters.com
