Why Disability Pride Month is a vital celebration of what it means to be disabled

Disability Pride Month is a time for the disabled community to celebrate who we are and for non-disabled people to take notice and stop seeing us as objects of pity. Founded in 1990, the month aims to bust stigmas around disability and, above all else, show that disability is a part of our lives that we don’t want to hide.

A question that is still whispered when the subject of Disability Pride Month comes up is, “Why are you proud to be disabled?”

Unfortunately, I understand why non-disabled people think this, the view of disability that they see in the media isn’t a happy one. Still, overwhelmingly, when disabled people are in TV shows, books, films or the press, it’s a very sad affair. We’re either there as objects of pity or to make non-disabled people feel better about themselves, and most of the time, this is because the writers and actors aren’t disabled and can’t know our experiences.‌

But I’m incredibly proud to be disabled, don’t get me wrong, living in pain isn’t easy. And ableism from the government, society and media makes it much harder to love my life – but I do.

“I don’t deserve to be ashamed of something that’s such a huge part of me.”

Being disabled has taught me resilience, to fight for what’s right and that I don’t deserve to be ashamed of something that’s such a huge part of me. I’ve learned that my emotions are a powerful weapon and that my neurodivergent traits, which so many see as weaknesses, make me who I am.

Disabled is still seen as the worst thing a person can be. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather have a body that needs more rest than be ableist, racist, homophobic or transphobic.‌

When I was younger, I was ashamed to be disabled, and that’s because society taught me it was bad. I would downplay my symptoms and force myself to power through at work or ignore my body, which was begging for rest on nights out. Instead, I drank until I passed out.