Did you know that July is Disability Pride Month?
Disability Pride is celebrated in July because 34 years ago, on July 26, 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed. This important civil rights law banned discrimination against people with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places that are open to the general public. This also includes access to public spaces such as your local favorite restaurant, Shelby Farms Park, Malco Theaters, and the Memphis Zoo.
The reality is, seven out of ten Tennesseans are living with a disability and one in four adults in the US live with a disability.
People with disabilities are the largest and most diverse minority group, representing all abilities, ages, races, ethnicities, religions and socio-economic backgrounds. So regardless of what car you might drive, your highest level of education, or what area of the 901 you live in, disability does not discriminate. In fact, disability is a natural part of life.
How can you support the disability community?
Disability Pride Month is a time to celebrate the hard work and accomplishments of the diverse disability community and spread awareness on how you can support our community.
Unfortunately, due to a lack of understanding and harmful stereotypes, there are often barriers for folks like me who need to request accommodations to do what others do without even thinking twice.
For example, you may have heard people say that a person with a disability needs “special accommodations” to attend an event or that they are “being difficult” when they request what they need to participate. Asking for what you need is standard practice in our society and as a person living in the Memphis area with a disability, believe me when I tell you there is nothing “special” about my needs or the fact that I want to attend a Grizz game, walk down Beale Street, or enjoy an event on Mud Island.
You can support the disability community by learning how to interact with our community.
People with disabilities are just that, people. We are no different than anyone else. We all want respect, patience, honesty, and kindness. However, there are things that you should know about interacting with someone with a disability.
- Don’t talk to us in a weird way.
- If we have trouble communicating verbally, we are aware. If you didn’t understand, let us know. Smiling and nodding isn’t cool.
- If you find out that someone is deaf, yelling and speaking very slowly probably isn’t going to help.
- Just because someone has a vision disability doesn’t mean they are blind.
- If we do use an AAC (Augmented Alternative Communication) device, cane, wheelchair, fidget item, or have a service animal, please don’t touch. These things are an extension of us.
- If you think that we need help, please ask us first. We might be just fine.
If you’re interested in learning more, the TDC has an updated Disability Etiquette Guide available in different formats for download.
You can support the disability community by making your events inclusive.
Whether you are planning an event for Disability Pride Month, a voting event, or a back-to-school bash, you’re going to have people with disabilities in attendance, seven out of ten Tennesseans have a disability, remember? So by keeping people with disabilities in mind you will maximize the amount of people who will be able to attend. Plus it’s just the right thing to do.
When planning an event, it’s important to consider the accessibility of your space. Are there accommodations for people who use wheelchairs or who are unable to climb stairs? Consider the lighting. Is it bright enough for guests to easily read menus and find their way to the restroom? Consider the sound. Do they have a microphone and speakers for you to use? Always make speakers use a microphone. We’ve all been in a situation where we missed something funny or in other cases something not-so-funny that we really wish we heard. Imagine that happening to people during your whole event.
At the Tennessee Disability Coalition, we ask our experts – the disability community – for help, ideas, and preferences when scheduling events. Asking folks what they need is the best, and the only way to learn and make your events as inclusive as you can. If you’re new to providing accommodations and don’t know where to start, thankfully the Mid-south has some great resources.
You can support the disability community by hiring people with disabilities:
The unemployment rate for people with disabilities is double that of people without disabilities. In 2016, Tennessee ranked 44th in the country for disability unemployment. People with disabilities want to work, we can work, and we have skills that are not being tapped into.
You can support the disability community by continuing to learn more about disability:
To build a more inclusive society, we have to look and where we’ve been to see where we’re going. We need to educate our communities and learn how to be better allies for the disability community. The passing of the ADA was 34 years ago, yet we still fight for inclusion and face threats to our civil rights. Educating children about disabilities and fostering inclusion in the younger generation is crucial for our future.
