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Disability Advocacy Personal Growth

6 Things YOU Can Do In 2021 To Be A Better Disability Community Ally

I know I’ve said this a million times on social media and that at least 3 other blog posts begin with this same sentiment, but that’s because it is so glaringly obvious.

2020 was the worst. It’s been mentally and physically draining for pretty much everyone around the world. But, no group or community has felt the full blow like the disability community.

The disability community has once again been forced into hiding thanks to the irresponsible behavior of our neighbors. Our worth has been called into question by both strangers on the street and medical professionals. It truly felt as if we were shoved backward through time. As the disability community shouted and exclaimed their joy over the 30th anniversary of the ADA, we were simultaneously being silenced.

In today’s blog post I talk about becoming a better disability community ally in 2021 and some basic easy steps you can take to do better this year.

Disability Advocacy

Everything You Need To Know About Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) In 2021

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month or NDEAM. This article will answer the following questions:

What is National Disability Employment Awareness Month?

Why do we celebrate NDEAM in the US?

How can I participate?

Why do people with disabilities celebrate both NDEAM and Disability Pride Month (July)?

How can this year’s NDEAM theme (INCREASING ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITY) actually be implemented in the workplace?

Disability Advocacy

Stop The Ableist Response to the First Presidential Debate of 2020

The Presidential Debate on Tuesday night was embarrassing to watch as an American citizen for many reasons. But, almost more troubling than the screaming match itself was America’s response to the two candidates.

To the best of my ability, I intend for this article to be unbiased in nature. Many of you who follow me across multiple platforms most likely already know my political leanings. That said, I would like to use this space to comment on the response to the presidential debate, rather than the content of the debate itself.

As a digital marketing professional and lifestyle blogger, I spend a lot of time on social media. I love connecting with my community online, but when you’re scrolling, there is no telling what you will come across. Immediately following the debate on Tuesday night, I jumped on Facebook and Twitter to see what my friends, family, and favorite personalities had to say about the event.

I was appalled by what I saw.

Jessica Ping-Wild behind the wheel of a car at 23 years old
Disability Advocacy Personal Story

Learning How To Drive As An Amputee

I grew up in a small, farming community, so driver’s education is a part of the high school curriculum. The big question on the table was whether or not I would be participating in the behind-the-wheel portion of the class and learning how to drive with the rest of my peers.

Having zero neurological or mental deficits and being proficient at Mario Kart, I didn’t fully understand why the school even bothered asking. OF COURSE I WOULD BE DRIVING! HOW SILLY!

But, I quickly understood it was much more involved than I originally thought.

a search bar on a red background with the words "ableist language to avoid - 'Bonkers'"
Ableist Language Series Disability Advocacy

Ableist Language To Avoid And Acceptable Alternatives – “Bonkers” Edition

Ableist language perpetuates the inferiority of people with disabilities. At its core, it is oppressive, derogatory, and hurtful, no matter the intention behind its usage.

I guarantee that you use ableist language every single day without even realizing it. It rolls off the tongue naturally because it’s hardly ever questioned.

Here on The Rolling Explorer, I am going to start questioning it.

Jessica Ping-Wild poses on a fake cover of vogue magazine to provide an example of what normalizing mobility aids could do for the fashion industry
Disability Advocacy Personal Growth

Where Are The Mobility Aids In The Fashion And Entertainment Industries?

Up until last fall, I hardly ever let my picture be taken sitting down. Part of the reasoning was my aversion to showing off my stomach rolls. I’ve always struggled with body image, and if I had nothing to block my tummy from view, I was guaranteed to be self-conscious.

The bigger and more problematic reason I avoided these types of photos, though, was my aversion to my mobility aids. I didn’t like the idea of “looking disabled.” There is such a stigma surrounding wheelchairs, crutches, canes, and prosthetics, not to mention bulkier medical equipment, that it’s hard for people who require these devices to not feel ashamed of needing them.

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.