July is Disability Pride Month. People with disabilities are the largest minority group in society and yet most people have never heard of Disability Pride Month—or why the concept is needed. I want to take time to explore the concept of disability pride and explain what it means to me. I hope to promote understanding and empathy.
Ever since I found out the name of my diagnosis and that I wasn’t alone—that I had a community—I wanted to be an advocate for others with disabilities. Advocacy was a purpose I felt called to. Speaking up for people who don’t always have a voice in society, people I could relate to, is a cause I want to devote my life to. But it’s a little more complicated than that for me.
As someone who wants to advocate for the disability community, I think it’s very important to be honest. And honestly, taking pride in my disability is sometimes hard for me. I’m not ashamed of my cerebral palsy (or my other conditions, anxiety and sensory processing disorder) but I’ve never been very open about it either. Part of the reason why is because I’ve never felt valid. Because my CP is mild, I worry that I’m not qualified to call myself disabled, ask for help, or many other aspects of the disability experience. As I’ve gotten older and met other people with disabilities, I realized that no one in the disability community would look down on me or my experiences.
Taking pride in my CP is also a little challenging on my bad days. There are some days where I don’t love my cerebral palsy or the extra obstacles it provides.
However, where the pride comes in is in the recognition that disabilities are beautiful and diverse. I’m proud to be disabled because of the opportunities my cerebral palsy provides me. For example, I know so many amazing people—both able-bodied and disabled—because I have cerebral palsy. I am able to be a part of a brave community of people who are empowering and validating. I’m proud to be disabled because it has made me who I am.
My CP has taught me to be resilient through all I’ve gone through. Without having cerebral palsy, I wouldn’t know how capable I really am. My having cerebral palsy has taught me to be empathetic and kind because you never know what battles another person is fighting. I’m proud that my cerebral palsy is a part of me because it has truly made me better. I think this sentiment is echoed throughout the disability community. My friend elaborated on her strengths due to her disability: “I’ve learned how to bend without breaking, how to notice the things others overlook, and how to carry a strength that doesn’t always need to be loud to be real. My disability has taught me to be creative, adaptable, and endlessly resilient.” I think it’s important to remember that not everything about a disability is negative. In fact, I’d argue that the vast majority of disability leads to positive outcomes. Part of disability pride is celebrating the ways our disabilities shape us, and that is beautiful.
As one of my friends pointed out to me, an important part of disability pride is uniqueness. Every person is unique and every disability is unique. Just as I am proud to be myself, I’m proud to be different from the mold. My CP is mild, yes, but being disabled means that no one walks the way I do. I have rods and screws in my hip and femur, so no one will be able to replicate my gait pattern. At camp, the girls in my cabin said that they could tell I have CP from the way I walk. Cerebral palsy dictates how I walk, and how I walk is unapologetically myself. The way I took that comment was the way I walk shows a connection. The way I walk connects me to people who share my diagnosis. That’s a really special thing. Disability pride leads to connection.
Because I have CP, I move through the world differently than anyone else. I see the world differently than anyone else. My disability allows me to see with compassion and find opportunities for equality. Instead of resenting our differences, it’s really important to take pride in them. My friend told me, “Disability Pride…[is about] realizing that my differences don’t just make me stand out, they shape me in powerful and beautiful ways. I don’t always do things the way everyone else does, and I’ve grown to love that.” Our disabilities don’t define us, but Disability Pride Month allows me to acknowledge that my disability is a huge part of who I am. At its core, I believe this is what Disability Pride is all about.
To me, disability pride means being proud of being a group of people that fights for equality, no matter what. I’m proud to know that someone’s abilities don’t determine their worth. I’m proud of all I’ve gone through. I’m proud of all the barriers myself and others have broken.
Another way to interpret disability pride is dignity and self-respect. Having a disability does not diminish my and others’ need for respect from others, and more importantly, the need to respect ourselves. Internalized ableism and the values of society can make it harder for me to believe that my disability does not lessen my worth. For me, respecting others is something I love—but respecting myself is not always easy. So in honor of Disability Pride, I’ll work on respecting myself and my cerebral palsy. I won’t belittle or invalidate my own experience with CP.
In addition to self-respect, eliminating ableism is a big goal of the Disability Pride movement. I think not being ableist is an extension of respect, and all people deserve respect. Disabled people do not need ableism. Disabled people need allies and the acknowledgment that disabilities are a natural part of life. As much as I may not always like my cerebral palsy, it is nothing to be ashamed of. If people were to embrace disabilities instead of shun them, I think my acceptance of my identity as someone who is disabled would be easier.
Because disabilities are a natural part of life, accessibility should also be a natural part of life. Accessibility is a need, not just a wish or a want. Part of being proud to have a disability is knowing what you need and that it is okay to need it. It’s okay to need accessibility. Accessibility is a right, not a privilege, and something everyone should strive for during Disability Pride Month and every day.
I may struggle sometimes with my own internalized ableism and trying to advocate, but I am proud to have CP. I love being a part of a community that prioritizes equality and validation. I wouldn’t trade my experiences with disability for the world. During Disability Pride Month, I am proud to be who I am and to live life with cerebral palsy. To anyone reading this who is disabled, I am proud of you this month and every month just for being you. Happy Disability Pride Month, and I hope everyone understands why we need it.