Celebrating Disability Pride Month
Be Unapologetically Who You Are
The disability community is full of problem solvers, creative thinkers and innovatiors. This month, we encourage you to join us in celebrating individuals with unique abilities and share positive experiences or lessons you have gained from individuals in this community or yourself if you are part of the disability community.
What is Disability Pride?
Disability pride emerged in response to negative views of disability and to promote human rights. Many individuals view their disability as an integral part of who they are, rather than something that should be seperated from their identity. Individuals with disabilities are sometimes framed by society as pitiable or helpless, but this view of disabled people can damage their confidence and self-esteem, especially since discrimination against disabled individuals (ableism) is so prevalent. Disability pride means different things to differnt people.
Check out the resources and stories below to learn more about some of the amazing and unique abilites from diverse voices.
Person-First vs. Identity-First Language
Person-first language positions the word person before the disability, as the commonly-used phrase “person with a disability” or “people with disabilities.” Many feel that this wording ensures that people can look beyond the disability to see that person as they are, while others feel this further stigmatizes disability by separating it from one’s identity.Critics of person-first language usually prefer identity-first language. The latter is used in phrases like “disabled person” or “autistic person,” where the disability identity comes first and is intrinsically linked with personhood. This terminology is often preferred by self-advocates and disability-led organizations and is becoming more popular.Regardless of how someone identifies, it’s important to respect the terms they use to describe themselves. If you are unsure whether or not to use identity-first or person-first language, it’s okay to ask.Resources
Understanding Disability Book Series - This series explores disability in a comprehensive, honest, and age-appropriate way. Engaging inquiry-based sidebars encourage students to LOOK, THINK, MAKE A GUESS, ASK QUESTIONS, and CREATE. Books are authored by writers with disabilities and the series has been developed in partnership with Easterseals who is leading the way to full equity, inclusion, and access through life-changing disability and community services.
Itty Bitty Book Series: Available August 1st, Easterseals National office and their affiliates across the country are proud to be partnering with Cherry Lake Publishing! This release will include short stories, written by individuals with disabilities, about individuals, who happen to have a disability, and have made a positive impact in the world. Stories in this series release will include Alice Wong, Anita Cameron, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Jason Benetti, Judy Heumann, Leroy Moore, Ralph Braun, and Vilissa Thompson. A portion of all sales from this series will be donated to Easterseals MORC. Stay tuned for more information!
Easterseals National Podcast - Everything You Know About Disability is Wrong
Easterseals National Disability Pride Month
See the Good Campaign Resources
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