July is Disability PRIDE Month
“These pioneers recognized the impact that disability had on their lives and spoke their truths to the world not in spite of their disabilities but because of them. They sparked the modern-day disability justice movement, advocating for the inclusion of marginalized voices within the disability community. They are the ones who taught us to be audacious in our hope and fervent in our love for ourselves and one another.”
First, let’s define intersectionality and examine how this term interacts with our identities.
Intersectionality is defined by Kimberle Crenshaw as the interconnected nature of social categorizations such as race, class, gender identity, sexual identity, and disability as they apply to a given individual or group, regarded as creating overlapping and interdependent systems of discrimination or disadvantage.
Intersecting identities is the concept that an individual’s identity consists of multiple, intersecting factors, including but not limited to gender identity, gender expression, race, ethnicity, class (past and present), religious beliefs, ability and disability, sexual identity and sexual expression.
Some of our identities are visible, while some are not. When and how these seen and unseen identities intersect can dictate which spaces you have access to, where you are welcome and accepted, and the privilege you have. For example, I, as a white abled (or pre-disabled seeing as disability can happen any time) woman have different privileges, access, and experiences than a white Disabled woman, and exponentially different privileges, access, and experiences than a Black Disabled woman.
You may be wondering at this point, “why should we listen to an able-bodied person during disability pride month?” and you are right to wonder! That is why I want to highlight Imani Barbarin’s writings and works as a Black Disabled woman and Disability Rights Activist. In her article, The Pandemic Tried to Break me, But I Know my Black Disabled Life is Worthy, she shares about her experience with both ableism and racism, and about her experience with self-love and community care, sharing:
“These pioneers recognized the impact that disability had on their lives and spoke their truths to the world not in spite of their disabilities but because of them. They sparked the modern-day disability justice movement, advocating for the inclusion of marginalized voices within the disability community. They are the ones who taught us to be audacious in our hope and fervent in our love for ourselves and one another.”
And, if you feel ready for a deep look at America’s legacy of race and disability, watch or listen to Imani’s podcast episode, Crip Conversations: A Conversation About Racism and Ableism with Imani Barbarin hosted by Dr. Nick Winges-Yanes, PhD Assistant Professor and Coordinator of the Critical Disability Studies Program at the University of Texas at Austin.
Lastly, accessibility is a human right, and here are some steps you can take right now to improve accessibility for Disabled individuals.
Take Action
Contact your representatives and tell them to support the SSI Restoration Act of 2021, which would allow Disabled folks to get married without losing their income, benefits, or health insurance. (If this sounds familiar it’s because it is the SAME ask as last year! Congress has not moved on this life-changing bill!)
Continue wearing masks to protect the most vulnerable members of our communities. The COVID-19 pandemic is not over, and cases are increasing in Virginia and around the country.
Ensure Disabled individuals are part of your Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion work right now, and not included as an afterthought.
Hire Disabled people and accommodate them. The pandemic showed us working from home and having flexible hours are possible. Continue providing remote access to work, to your events, and to healthcare.
Assess the accessibility of your work space, your website, your events, and your social media. Are you using Universal Design? Do you provide alt text and image descriptions on your pictures and posts? Do you use CamelCase for your hashtags? Do you provide captioning on your videos and live streams? Is there a place for folks to request accommodations for events? Are you prepared to accommodate them? Is your event space accessible? If not, it’s not accessible. Full stop.
Change your language and change your mindset. Disabled is not a bad word.
Stop using “Special needs.” There is no such thing as special needs. They are just human needs.
Stop using “wheelchair bound.” Wheelchairs offer freedom and independence, Try “wheelchair user” instead.
Stop saying Disabled people are “inspiring” for just living their normal lives.
Diversify your social media feed. Start following Disabled activists, especially Black, Disabled activists, and new hashtags.
Imani Barbarin (Crutches & Spice)
Keah Brown #DisabledAndCute
Nakia Smith
Morénike Giwa-Onaiwu
Alice Wong (Disability Visibility)
Alex Darcy (Wheelchair Rapunzel)
Gregory Mansfield (@GHMansfield on twitter)
Rebekah Taussig (Sitting Pretty)
Corey Lee (Curb Free Cory Lee)
Follow the Lucky_fin_project
Follow the Black Disability Collective @BlackDisabled
Follow Upgrade Accessibility
#DisabledAndCute
#CripTheVote
#ActuallyAutistic
#StopTheShock
Watch Crip Camp
Do not give to organizations that claim to “speak for,” infantilize, or act paternalistic towards Disabled folks. Do your research before giving!
dana kiernan
Dana Kiernan is an experienced data analyst and researcher, providing support across all VACV projects. Prior to joining VACV, Dana worked as a data and research analyst for the Thriving Cities Group, focusing on jobs access along the Richmond Highway Corridor. She has a background in public policy and health. Dana lives in Eugene, Oregon with her husband and two dogs. Contact Dana at dana@vacommunityvoice.org.