July has arrived, signaling the time to celebrate Disability Pride Month! This month, we encourage everyone to come together to honor the history, achievements, experiences, and ongoing struggles of the disability community.
At Blue Sky Learning we encourage you to take meaningful actions during Disability Pride Month. By challenging ableism and supporting the efforts of disability activists, you help build a more equitable, inclusive, diverse, and accessible society for all.
Read on to discover more about Disability Pride Month, the definition of disability, the role of neurodivergence, available resources, and much more.
What Is Disability Pride Month?
Disability Pride Month is celebrated every July, providing an opportunity for individuals across the world to recognize and celebrate the contributions of disabled individuals.
During this time, Disability Pride emphasizes the uniqueness of each individual as a beautiful part of human diversity that strengthens the world. It highlights how society treats disabled individuals and the imperative to advocate for a more just world free from ableism and discrimination.
Historically, disabled individuals, especially those from BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and female communities, have been denied opportunities and marginalized.
This month embraces an intersectional approach that parallels LGBTQ+ pride, reclaiming visibility within society. Individuals are encouraged to shift perceptions of disability, promoting it as a natural facet of human diversity.
This is a time for the disability community to unite and uplift one another's voices, affirming that the voices of disabled individuals deserve recognition and respect. We all share the responsibility to create a diverse, inclusive, equitable, and inclusive world where no disabled individual is left behind.
What Is the Theme for Disability Pride Month 2024?
Each July features a different theme for Disability Pride Month. In 2024, the theme, formulated by the Arc’s National Council of Self-Advocates, will be “We want a life like yours.”
This theme recognizes the aspirations of disabled individuals that are frequently denied by society. Disabled individuals hope for a world that provides disabled individuals with equal opportunities without excessive barriers.
History of Disability Pride Month
Disability Pride Month originated in the United States in 1990 as part of the Disability Rights Movement. It has been celebrated in July since the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26, 1990.
The ADA is a federal civil rights law that safeguards disabled individuals against discrimination, ensuring equal access to employment, housing, goods, services, and participation in activities.
The same year the ADA became law, Boston pioneered Disability Pride Day. Moreover, although Disability Pride Month began in 1990, the first official celebration occurred in July 2015, coinciding with the 25th anniversary of the ADA's signing.
Since then, disability pride celebrations, including parades and festivals, have expanded globally, making their way to Canada as well.
In Ontario, the provincial Bill 128 —"Disability Pride Month Act, 2023" — was passed. This legislation acknowledges disability not only as an identity but as a community with unique culture to celebrate and take pride in.
Disability culture emphasizes visibility and self-value, making Disability Pride Month a vital time for recognizing these elements and listening to the voices of people with disabilities.
What Is the Disability Pride Flag?
Ann Magill, who has cerebral palsy, designed the original Disability Pride Flag. The flag featured a black background with zigzag stripes in five colours, each representing a different category of disability.
The zigzag pattern symbolizes how disabled individuals often have to navigate around societal barriers to participate fully in society. However, this design posed accessibility issues. For instance, the zigzag pattern could trigger individuals with visually triggered disabilities such as epilepsy.
To address this, Ann Magill consulted the disability community for more accessible design suggestions. In 2021, she modified the flag to remove the zigzag pattern and soften the colour intensity.
The new design consists of a straight diagonal banner of five colours on a dark background, with the faded black background representing mourning for those lost of people to ableism. Each of the other colours carries specific meanings, including:
Green: Sensory disabilities
Blue: Mental health disabilities
White: Invisible and undiagnosed disabilities
Yellow: Cognitive and intellectual disabilities
Red: Physical disabilities.
Overall, the flag represents the unifying celebration of disability across various borders between nations. This July, proudly display the Disability Pride Flag as a symbol of unity and empowerment for the disability community.
What is the Disability Rights Movement?
Disability Pride Month exists due to the tireless efforts of disability advocates worldwide, who collectively form what is known as the Disability Rights Movement.
This movement emerged in the 20th century within Canada and has roots in the social justice movement, focusing on examining disability and ableism through the lenses of oppression and identity.
The Disability Rights Movement addresses various intersectional issues, including accessible housing, inadequate social assistance rates, and transportation barriers. Its advocacy aligns with social justice efforts aimed at creating a world that is equitable, inclusive, diverse, and accessible.
It actively lobbies all levels of government to eliminate barriers that impede the full and equal inclusion of disabled individuals. The movement has led to several pivotal laws designed to protect disabled individuals from discrimination.
These laws include the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in the United States and the Accessibilities for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) in Ontario, Canada.
Despite these advancements, significant work remains to truly achieve a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible society.
How Is Neurodivergence Connected to Disability Pride Month?
The Disability Rights Movement comprises various branches advocating for distinct forms of disability, one of which is the Neurodiversity Movement. This movement originated within the Autism Rights Movement and consists of individuals uniting for a common goal.
The primary goal is to secure civil rights, equality, respect, and full societal inclusion for neurodivergent individuals, as articulated by Dr. Nick Walker.
This distinguishes the Neurodiversity Movement from the Autism Rights Movement, which focuses specifically on advocating for the rights of autistic individuals rather than all neurominorities.
Additionally, advocates within the Neurodiversity Rights Movement do not view neurodivergence as a disease to be cured. Instead, they appreciate it as a different way to navigating the world.
Conversely, some within the Autistic Rights Movement maintain a medical model perspective, viewing autism as a condition needing treatment.
Why Is Disability Pride Month Important?
The disability community constitutes one of the largest minority groups worldwide. Despite the commonality, disabled individuals are disproportionately represented among impoverished and unemployed populations and face a higher risk of violence.
Below are some critical facts highlighting the importance of advocating for a more just world during Disability Pride Month.
Facts About Disabilities
Disabled individuals often encounter significant societal barriers that hinder equal and full participation. We must shed some light on these facts about disabilities to foster inclusion and action:
In 2022, approximately 65.1% of Canadian disabled individuals aged 16 to 64 were employed, compared to 80.1% of individuals without disabilities.
During the same period, those without disabilities earned a median hourly rate that was 5.5% higher than their disabled counterparts.
About 72% of disabled individuals reported experiencing at least one accessibility barrier.
The rate of suicidal ideation among disabled adults over a 12-month period was 3.5 times greater than that of non-disabled individuals.
These statistics underscore the importance of viewing accessibility as a societal issue rather than an individual issue. The barriers, not the disability itself, obstruct the full inclusion of disabled individuals. Advocating for a social model of disability is essential.
Disability Pride Month serves as a powerful moment for disabled individuals to celebrate their identities and call on allies to join them in the fight for a world free from ableism and barriers.
How You Can Celebrate Disability Pride Month
There are numerous ways to challenge ableism and show your support for the disability community:
Believe individuals when they disclose their disabilities.
Make accessibility the default and readily provide accommodations.
Avoid requiring disabled individuals to prove their disabilities to you.
Listen to and uplift disabled voices; avoid speaking on behalf of or over them.
Recognize your biases and actively work to unlearn them.
Additionally, educate yourself about disabilities, systems of oppression, and the role you play in fostering a more equitable, diverse, inclusive, and accessible world. Here are some resources below to get you started.
Resources for Disability Pride Month
The disability community is diverse, and no single resource will resonate with everyone, just as no universal definition of disability exists. However, we've complied a selection of resources that we recommend checking out:
Blue Sky Learning Disability Advocacy
Building Blue Sky Learning™—an initiative focused on Tkaronto/Toronto-based services—has fulfilled Dana's lifelong entrepreneurial dream. She sought to create an inclusive space where equity, diversity, and well-being flourish.
Her lived experience, local teaching roles, international leadership, and extensive background in supporting disabled individuals form the foundation of this initiative for accessibility. Dana journey through disability and her experiences witnessing the stigma around mental health and suicide prevention have propelled her toward this crucial moment for change.
The values embodied by Dana and her team of compassion, empathy, and a person-centered approach drive Blue Sky Learning. This initiative facilitates connection among students, professionals, parental guardians, and educators to address individual concerns and areas for growth.
Dana aims to provide a safe and supportive environment that embraces intersectionality. Blue Sky Learning also seeks to reduce stigma and shame, deepen clients' understanding of internalized ableism, and empower people to confront avoidance behaviours.
Recommended Books for Disability pride month
Written by disability rights activist Alice Wong, this book illuminates the experiences of disabled individuals through blogs, manifestos, and eulogies that celebrate everyday life in the disabled community.
This insightful guide offers actionable steps for becoming an informed and active ally to the disabled community, alongside education on ableism and inclusivity.
This book shares stories of how disabled individuals have been ignored and marginalized. It celebrates the triumphs and achievements of those who have fought against an ableist system.
This book explores neurodiversity and encourages society to adopt a more accepting perspective of neurodivergence, shifting away from viewing differences as problems.
5. Crip Kinship
The collection from Sins Invalid rewrites the narrative of oppression experienced by disabled, queer, trans, and gender-nonconforming individuals of colour, advocating for queer disability justice
This compilation of essays by disability justice activist Leah explores the disability justice movement, centering the experiences of sick, disabled, queer, trans, and BIPOC individuals.
Accessibility 101 Workshop
Ableism, which discriminates against disabled individuals by positioning abled individuals as superior, stems from the belief that disabled people need fixing. Internalized ableism occurs when disabled people adopt prejudiced views against themselves.
Accessibility focuses on enabling access for disabled individuals within society. You can learn more and discover how to enhance workplace accessibility for disabled individuals by booking a Blue Sky Learning Accessibility 101 workshop.
Neurodiversity-Affirming Therapy
If you are seeking counselling for your neurodivergence, one of the coaches or therapists at Blue Sky Learning is ready to assist you. Registered Social Workers Krystal and Emily, and Registered Psychotherapists (Qualifying) Sandra and Tarni are currently accepting clients.
Their counselling services prioritize a neurodiversity-affirming approach, recognizing brain differences in neurodivergent conditions as valuable assets that contribute to a more diverse world.
During your sessions with your therapist, you'll explore your unique neurodivergent challenges through a perspective that acknowledges ableism, helping you uncover your strengths and utilize them to create accommodating environments at work, home, school, or in your community.
Neurodiversity-Affirming Coaching
Blue Sky Learning also provides neurodivergent-affirming coaching to help you identify ways to accommodate your challenges and leverage your strengths for success. A variety of coaches, including Maddy, Kim/Em, Ayeshika, Tony, Amanda, Ellie, and Dragana, are currently welcoming new clients.
Book a Free Consultation With Blue Sky Learning
Are you looking for a neurodivergent coach or therapist in Canada? Or perhaps you're interested in exploring disabilities further through our Accessibility 101 workshop?
Book a free 20-minute consultation with a member of the Blue Sky Learning team by emailing hello@blueskylearning.ca or following the link below.
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