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4 Things I Learned From Speaking On UIC’s Disability Pride Panel

Last week, I had the opportunity to do something I’ve always wanted to do. On Thursday, April 1st, 2021, I spoke on a Disability Pride Panel for the Disability and Human Development Undergraduate Student Association at the University of Illinois at Chicago. It was such an incredible experience and I am very grateful to have been asked to be a part of the event.

Because this Disability Pride Panel was hosted by a student organization at UIC, attendance was not open to the public. Though I was disappointed more people didn’t have access to the wonderful dialogue taking place, the small numbers allowed more time for questions and discussion.

Since this was my first time speaking on a panel, specifically a disability pride panel, I thought it would be fruitful to share my thoughts and feelings on the event. By doing so, I hope other institutions and organizations can learn about the importance of events like this one and hopefully host their own versions in the future.

Without further ado, here are the top 4 things I learned from speaking on UIC’s Disability Pride Panel.

Jessica Ping-Wild sits on a tree stump and lifts a bottle of wine above her head in celebration of the ADA's 30th Anniversary
Disability Advocacy

5 Ways You Can Celebrate the ADA’s 30th Anniversary After July Ends

Here on The Rolling Explorer, we have been celebrating the ADA’s 30th Anniversary for the entire month of July.

It’s been busy, but so, so fulfilling.

Of course, none of my efforts matter if they don’t inspire real change. I am thrilled to have a platform to speak out on, but at the end of the day, words can only do so much.

That’s why I created the list below.

Disability Pride Month is coming to an end and the ADA won’t have another significant anniversary for at least 5 years. I’ve been impressed that so many organizations have used this month to spread awareness. The real key, though, is what people do moving forward.

Disability Advocacy

5 Ways You Can Help Improve Disability Representation in the Workplace

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which was only founded in 1990, specifically says the following:

“No qualified individual with a disability shall, on the basis of disability, be subjected to discrimination in employment under any service, program, or activity conducted by a public entity”

Yet, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2019, “across all educational attainment groups, unemployment rates for persons with a disability were higher than those for persons without a disability.”

Additionally, only 19.3% of the disabled population was employed in 2019 compared with 66.3% of non-disabled people. – BLS

What does this mean for disability representation in the workplace?

It means that, regardless of whether or not companies are being actively discriminatory towards disabled job seekers, there is still a huge divide that needs to be addressed.