Guess what? A couple weeks ago, I got to write my first piece for Upworthy all about July’s Disability Pride Month!!! And I couldn’t be more proud of how the piece turned out, friends…
July was a HUGE month for disability rights as we celebrated both the 30th anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act and Disability Pride Month.
Predictably, neither was mentioned by Trump or the White House. At all. If this doesn’t tell you exactly how this administration feels about disabled people, then I don’t know what will. But, really, did we expect them to? Of course not!! I suppose that’s a topic for a separate blog post, though!
Here’s an excerpt of the piece, in which it was so powerful to put all my feelings about disability pride into words:
“Finally, we’re seeing this trend of disabled people reclaiming what it means to have a disability. We don’t typically see the words pride and disability together, but for disabled people like me, the two words go hand in hand. “Disability pride” is a declaration as much as it is a celebration, where the disability community is shouting, “Yes, disabled people want to be seen and heard. And guess what? We’re not going anywhere!”
My hope is that one day, we won’t need any entire month to remind people that it’s okay to celebrate disabilities and that society will celebrate us because they see our inherent worth and dignity just like we do. Until that day, though, here’s a reminder one more time: Please, see my wheelchair. See my disability. See all of me.”
I also think it’s important to talk about the journey of “disability pride” itself. People sometimes think that becoming comfortable in your disabled body is automatic. Trust me, it’s NOT. Loving yourself in a society that says you shouldn’t is a lifelong process. It’s a journey I’ll always be on, but one I’m proud to be on!
You can read the full piece here and I’d love to hear your thoughts. Feel free to email me anytime at mellow1422@aol.com and let’s chat! And of course, feel free to share my essay on Facebook, Twitter or even your local refrigerator. If you share on Twitter, be sure to tag me @melissablake so I see your tweet and we can connect! I can’t wait to hear from you! Love you all… xoxo
A Few Thoughts on Bullying and Social Media
My Essay on Dr. Oz’s The Good Life: “I Was a Medical Mystery”
Home Again.
Bg says
Great piece, Melissa. The disability pride posts and interviews you did Last month were excellent. It was great to shift the focus on being proud of yourself and who you are. It seems that is often overlooked when discussing disabilities.
Your work has definitely helped further educate me on the lives of people living with disabilities. Thank you for being so open and honest about yourself and your feelings.
Linda Koski says
Hi Melissa,
Thank you for this piece. My ex husband is disabled. I’d rather say he is on disability, but then I’m not seeing all of him, as you say. When we would go out, it would infuriate me when people stared at him. If it happens again, I’m going to tell the rubber necker that some people wear their issues on the outside and some people wear them on the inside. Do we stare at them too? No, so there should be no difference – we must treat everyone with compassion and whatever story they are walking.
Best,
Linda
Krysten Quiles says
Melissa I am so proud to be your friend. You lay this out so simply and it makes me wonder how anyone can treat someone who is disabled as someone who is less. Awhile back to gave us a list of others with disabilities to follow on Instagram and I am learned so much. Thank you for sharing yourself with us and helping to open our eyes. You’re amazing.
Miles says
Dear Melissa:
I do not have social media like Facebook or Twitter, so I rely on this comment thread to reach you. I recently read your piece relating to the recent TikTok trend. I simply want to say that you have my highest support and praise for condemning the deep failings in people generally, and parents in particular, who engage in demeaning, despicable acts of ridicule towards other people, including those with disabilities. Our society is at risk of crumbling from our decadence and myopic self-interest, as exemplified by this new “trend.” To me, the trend signifies that we are lost by own devices. Shunning or condemning another human being, let alone teaching children to do the same, based only on physical appearance is a moral failing to the highest degree and has and continues to wreak havoc among human lives to this day. What these parents fail to understand—likely because they are still children themselves, insecure in their own skin and thus lashing out to feel better about their own feelings of inadequacy and incompetency in a society that prizes “beauty” above all else—is that those who even appear different from “normal” people may and probably do hold new insights, perspectives, and experiences that add to the richness of being alive—not detract from it. That we are teaching children to run from life and its complexities is a reflection that we are running toward our demise as a civilized society. As the father to two young boys, I will never teach them to run, but rather to inquire, to learn, to appreciate, and to empathize. I wanted to share that with you so that you know—as I’m sure you already do—that there are those of us who care, who think, and who empathize, and also who appreciate the effort you are making to demand that everyone take a second and third look at their values and what we are passing on to our children. Thank you.