Disability Pride

MY BODY; NOT AN APOLOGY

 

 “The women’s movement does not emphasize the “maleness” of women. The LGBTQ+ movement does not emphasize the “heterosexual-ness” of gay men and women. But the disability movement does very much emphasize the “ableness” of people with disabilities”

— Parsons, 1999

 

 

Have you heard of ‘Disability Pride'?

It won’t be incorrect to assume that many are unaware of this concept due to the lack of mainstream discourse surrounding it. So, before we extend our support, let’s understand what it is and how it came to be.

What is Disability Pride?

 

People with disabilities are the largest and most diverse minority within the population representing all abilities, ages, races, ethnicities, religions and socio-economic backgrounds. Yet their entire existence is under-represented and brushed under a single carpet of 'being disabled'. In response to negative views of disability, and to promote human rights, disability pride emerged.

 

Disability Pride has been defined as accepting and honouring each person's uniqueness and seeing it as a natural and beautiful part of human diversity. It is an integral part of movement building, and a direct challenge of systemic ableism and stigmatising definitions of disability.

It focuses on the social model of disability where one is acknowledged and seen beyond their disability and is at par with everyone.

When did it begin?

July, 1990 brought the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a civil law prohibiting discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, and ensured the same rights and opportunities as everyone else. This constitutional development was followed by the first ever Disability Pride parade held in Boston in the same year (and again in 1991). Thirteen years later, it was successfully revived in Chicago attracting almost 2000 people to the event.With these changing winds, people of this community became gradually recognised in social spheres and uplifted in the mainstream dialogues.

Today, Disability Prides are held throughout the United States. One of the biggest achievements was when Mayor Bill de Blasio (of New York City) declared July as “Disability Pride Month” in 2015 in honour of the 25th anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA).

 

 

Why do we need it?

 

Our society is full of markers of disability shame. People with disabilities experience oppression through low employment rates, higher likelihood to be victims of abuse & bullying, exclusion from education, social isolation etc.

 

Disability Pride is integral in order to achieve equity. It is a tool to fight against the notions of ‘normalism’ by affirming one's self-worth as a disabled person in an ableist society

The culture surrounding Disability Pride is one of self value and self advocacy. It’s all about recognising oneself as a person beyond their disability and fighting for their rights alongside those who share the same goals, and advocating for one’s own rights rather than other people advocating on their behalf.

 

Inaccessibility

 

Even though the Right of Persons with Disabilities Act was passed in India (2016), people across the country face serious obstacles to participate in daily activities. Inaccessible transport and lack of inclusive infrastructure/services cause people with disabilities to counter stigma and discrimination in all spheres of life. Lack of such resources is not only humiliating for the individual but also limits their access to basic education or medical facilities.

In spending less finances and effort for providing resources to this community, we are simply promoting the idea that people with disabilities are lesser humans; that they are not worthy of the same level of dignity and privilege as their able-bodied counterparts. 

 

How are they represented in media?

Representation of people with disabilities in the media is at two extremes:

a)         There is the view that disability and “being challenged” is a negative thing and not “normal'' and the coverage is influenced by prejudice that is showcased from the lack of empathy and zero to little sensitivity.

b)         The other extreme being showing people with disabilities as courageous, brave inspirations that we should all learn from. This view, although is positive, it still proceeds to dehumanise and emphasises on the fact that people with disabilities are different.

To ensure that people with disabilities are not seen as different, a more mainstream and inclusive approach to coverage needs to be adopted. There is a need for sensitisation for the way people with disabilities are represented. Rather than seeing their disability first, they need to be seen as human beings.

Intersectionality - Disability Pride

Intersectionality is the interconnected nature of social categorisations such as race, class, and gender as they apply to a given individual or group-it highlights overlapping and interdependent systems of discrimination or disadvantage; without any particular identity being the primary one.

People with disabilities see their disability as a part of their identity that they are proud of. The fundamental meaning behind Pride is for everyone to be proud of their bodies, sexuality, and physical appearances.

 

How to be an ally

There are two simple ways to be an ally — do your own bit to help and never stop educating yourself on the problems faced by the ones, you wish to offer your alliance to.

 

To live a dignified and independent life, individuals need to have access to services and devices that facilitate their participation in the community on an equal platform. Ways to help people with disability include —

 

•     Power of identity — Instead of forcing or assuming the societal labels they are tagged with, we need to give them the power of their identity by respecting the terms they choose to describe themselves with. If you are unsure, it is alright to ask.

 

•     Don’t Objectify Their Existence — Conversations enabling them as inspirational or for moral porn exploit their existence via objectification and giving regard for having a disability. Instead have your conversations incorporate disability as a natural part of their identity.

 

•     Don’t Patrionize — Though providing physical help or emotional comfort or even giving advice may come from a place of concern, it is often regarded as offensive and unsolicited if not asked for. Hence, asking before helping is a way of empowering people of the community and to take pride and power in their hands.

 

•     Social Acceptance — Our overall cultural consciousness on how we treat and interact with disability needs to change. We need to celebrate our peers for their differences. Rather than imposing pride, we need to set the environment for them to feel pride and develop self-love and acceptance.

 

•     Educate Yourself—  By embracing their civic background, one can develop knowledge and role models to identify with and be motivated to thrive in a world of opportunities. With Disability Studies being an emerging discipline, one needs to integrate its content in mainstream dialogues and social representation. There is a need to Integrate Disability History and Polity in Curriculums and Programmesto acknowledge and identify the plight and achievements of the community.

 

 

To expand on the last point, living in the era of the Internet, our education comes not only from our textbooks or the daily newspaper but from across the globe. This offers us a great opportunity to learn great personalities and programs which have paved the way for people with disabilities and their recognition as individuals, rather than being defined by their ableness.