Unpacking Disability Pride Month

July is Disability Pride Month, and as an amputee who not only lives with a disability daily but blogs about it, makes connections with others because of it, and does her best to rise above the struggles that come along with it, I feel qualified to unpack what it means to me.

Last year, I posted a series of Instagram graphics along with a post about Disability Pride that included the current flag. Although I don't often deal with too many "haters" online, this post seemed to bring many of them out of their deep dark holes, with a strong urge to tell me how stupid I was for feeling any sense of pride over something like disability. I was mad, but I was more curious to understand where this was actually coming from. Why would it be so offensive to anyone that I, someone who is different and faces specific challenges, share a flag and sentiment created by someone like myself who advocates for acceptance, representation, and inclusion? Why, does it bother them that I am not ashamed of my disability and how it has changed my life, in some ways for the better? So I asked, and I did my best to listen.

What I've learned is that some of us will disagree on how different it is to live with a disability from living without one. Because we seek inclusion and acceptance, some people think we don't need to talk about disability at all. We aren't defined by it, that we can agree on. We are each far more than whatever accommodations we need and devices we use; this is true. But living with a disability IS a unique experience. Although there are resources and policies put in place to protect us from discrimination and allow us access to some of the same jobs, locations, and benefits as non-disabled individuals, it isn't quite enough. We are not on the even playing field we deserve.

Disability Pride also reminds us that we shouldn't feel pressured to hide our disability to blend in. One way I do this is by donning a gold glitter prosthetic leg socket and wearing shorts often. I'm not ashamed to be different. I AM proud of who I am and what I've done with the hand I've been dealt. If that makes you uncomfortable, that's a you problem. And you might need even more therapy than I do after losing a leg to cancer, which is saying a lot.

In the words of Marilyn Monroe, "Never let anyone dull your sparkle."