I first came across the term ‘Disability Pride’ in a passing conversation when I moved to Brighton. Despite being a disabled heterosexual female myself, I automatically assumed Disability pride represented LGBTQ+ disabled people. Interestingly after speaking to many others, they assumed it meant the same thing. Yet Disability Pride Month was started with the aim of raising awareness of all disabilities, encouraging self-love, and breaking stigmas.

The word pride to me represents strength. I often talk about using your negative experiences to make them a positive. People are so quick to ‘feel sorry for disabled people’, when in fact people with disabilities are people who have been given a different opportunity in life. We are resilient. We are strong. We are brave. We are powerful. We are empathetic. All despite our disabilities. So, whether being proud of your disability means talking about your struggles, understanding your limits, or accepting a newfound diagnosis, just remember that it can take some time to acquire such mindsets. But you will get there! It certainly took me while to do so, but now I take great pride in my disabilities and the strength required to overcome the endless associated challenges and setbacks.

Disability Pride can be a really difficult month for many people living with disabilities, particularly those who struggle to accept their disability. But this is something most of us experience at some point, so just remember that you are not alone. The moment things started getting better for me was the moment I accepted ‘this is it’.

It’s okay to mourn the loss of your teen years or grieve the life that could’ve been. I often feel jealous when we see my peers doing things, I could only dream of doing without the consequences of ill health. But then I remember the things I can do, and the things I have experienced because of my disabilities, and it helps.

Disability Pride for me is about remembering that it’s also okay to feel negative, angry, or resentful about your disabilities sometimes. I frequently feel frustrated about the way we are treated as members of society. I feel anger at the casual ableism, annoyance at the inaccessibility of the world around us, and embarrassment at the fact I still feel like I need to hide away.

Disability Pride for me is a time for us to celebrate the people our disabilities have made us, whilst remembering all the amazing qualities we have as people regardless of our disabilities. Whether it be a friend, a daughter, a dad, a teacher, a good cook, a shoulder to cry on etc.

Disability Pride for me is a time to smile, as we look back on all the rubbish we overcome to get to where we are today. It isn’t fair, but it is also amazing to see the progress we have made towards creating a more inclusive world. The small steps *pardon the pun* when a shop has a permanent ramp fitted, or hires a disabled model is always a head in the right direction.

To conclude, people with disabilities need to be normalised within society. We are not scary, we are powerful, we are loved, and we are worthy. I love the community our disabilities have helped us build.

EDUCATE, ADVOCATE & EMPOWER.

Love you for who you are, you only get one ‘you’. Remember this can be difficult, so don’t rush, I’m still learning too!

Lauren x