Today, I am going to talk about 3 things:
1. The History of Disability Pride Month
2. Why People with Disabilities Celebrate Disability Pride Month When They Already Have Disability Employment Awareness Month (October)
3. The Relevance of Disability Pride Month in 2020
Over the past year, I have had to unlearn so many stigmas I believed about myself and the disabled community. Ableism runs DEEP in our society and I still have to correct myself now and again.
That is why I do what I do.
If I, having lived with a disability my entire life, have to unlearn the way I think about the disabled lived condition, you do too.
We all do.
So, whether you’re one of my original subscribers, or brand new to the party this week, let’s look back on the top 10 things you should have learned by following my blog and social media accounts this year.
Gastritis.
After 15 minutes with the doctor, that was the initial diagnosis. I was to take an over the counter antacid for 2 weeks and then report back if things didn’t improve.
Less than 10 days later, I was plopped down on an examination table feeling as though I could vomit at any moment.
Blood was drawn. Urine was collected. A pelvic examination was completed. Still nothing.
Unfortunately, the #BlackLivesMatter movement is already starting to see a decline in media coverage. The initial thrill of leaving your house for the first time in months is fading. Your ability to donate is dwindling. You’ve signed every petition you’ve come across.
Now what?
In order for this movement to transcend the month of June, people around the world need to make some serious changes to their daily life.
Welcome to the 10th Hunger Games! If you’re looking for a trip down memory lane, this is the perfect read for you, as you’ll constantly be referred back to old character names and parallels from the original series. But, let me be the first to warn you, this Hunger Games looks nothing like the one we lived through alongside Katniss and Peeta.
I am disabled and, therefore, have an automatic disadvantage in this world, BUT I still have a massive amount of privilege due to the color of my skin.
Below I have highlighted 11 different Instagram accounts that are run by disabled people of color. While these accounts vary in their level of activism, regular exposure to this marginalized perspective will help with general awareness and societal normalization.
I do not have corona, but I am outrageously unwell. I sit in my house, and scroll through headlines on social media and instantly begin to feel nauseated and heartbroken. Each day that passes causes me such severe, physical pain that I am not sure what to do or how to move forward.
The United States may just now be facing a deadly and seemingly unstoppable pandemic, but we have been sick for a very, very long time.
I am truly obsessed with the dinosaur of television shows, Grey’s Anatomy. My consumption of the 300+ episodes available on Netflix has been sudden and frantic, but fruitful nonetheless. Over the past 9 months I have watched the entire series one and ⅞ times, ignoring all other shows and focusing my attention solely on the happenings of Grey Sloan Memorial. I’ve convinced myself that if I watch the show often enough, I will absorb all medical knowledge and become the next best thing to a medical student. Unfortunately, my second round of watching the show has not yet offered this all-knowing insight, but it has taught me quite a bit about the power of relationships in the medical field.
When I was 10 years old and visiting my first beach they were all I could think about. I had come prepared with my own bucket and spade, ready to take on any challenge that may come my way. The first obstacle presented itself almost immediately after I jumped out of the car. My wheelchair is my mode of transport, but it refused to trudge through the sand, leaving me with two options:
I’ve stared at a wide range of butts in my day. I apologize if that sounds crass, but it’s my reality. Anytime I am sitting in my wheelchair with someone standing in front of me, the first thing my eyes have to focus on is someone else’s derriere. To say the least, it’s not exactly my favorite view.