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Reasons to Implement Disability Pride In The Community

Reasons to Implement Disability Pride In The Community

History

Did you know that approximately 15% of the Earth’s population lives with a form of disability? That’s a lot of people—over one billion—and they’re known as the “world’s largest minority.” This group includes people of all races, ages, abilities, and socioeconomic levels, and together they represent the amazing and varied diversity of human life.

Too frequently, though, the condition of their bodies or mind forces them to lead lives of exclusion and stigmatization that shapes their experience in negative ways.

In the past three decades, a movement to celebrate disability culture and rights has grown in the United States and beyond, and a feeling of pride has gained traction. This is Disability Pride, and it is a powerful force that reminds the world that all people are unique and beautiful, no matter what they are capable of doing.

Regardless of who you are, isn’t it about time you got some Disability Pride?

Disability Pride History

In 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed into law, which ended legal discrimination against people with disabilities in these areas of public life:

Employment
Transportation
Public accommodations
Access to state and local government services.

Prior to this act, it was common for employers to lead job interviews by asking applicants if they had any mental or physical impairments, which they could then use to exclude them from the workplace. Public buildings and transportation services had no obligation to provide assisted access or make accommodations for individuals with mobility issues.

In short, being a member of the one billion people with a disability was a constant struggle for validation and employment in a world that did not seem to care.

The passing of the ADA made an enormous difference in people’s lives, and in that same year, 1990, Boston held its first Disability Pride Day.

Why is Disability Pride Important?

Though the ADA helped make huge strides in the fight for equality for all Americans, members of the world’s largest minority still face tremendous struggles in day-to-day life. The stigmatization that disabled people face is real and directly impacts the quality of their lives.

Compared to the non-disabled population, disabled people still struggle to find the same happiness that others take for granted. Consider these challenges they face:

Higher rates of poverty: Twenty-five percent of disabled Americans live below the poverty line, double the rate of non-disabled Americans.
Lower levels of education: Children with disabilities have always suffered neglect and exclusion in the education system, and the fortunate percentage that experience school often do so in isolation from their “mainstreamed” peers. Additionally, instances of bullying and violence make school an unpleasant experience that many soon wish to leave behind.
Higher incidents of violence: It is a shocking truth that children with disabilities are almost four times more likely than their non-disabled counterparts to be the victim of violence.

Ways to Celebrate Disability Pride

Now that you are informed about Disability Pride, here are some small acts of kindness and acceptance you can make in order to share awareness and support.

Educate yourself on the challenges that people with disabilities face.
Amplify the voices of the disabled.
Read books by and about disabled people.
Attend a Disability Pride Parade or celebration in your city.

Celebrate Disability Pride yourself! Share your acceptance of this group with your community, your family, your school, and anyone else who needs to hear the message.

Contact Us

At Advanced Behavioral Health, we are well aware of the challenges facing members of the world’s largest majority, and our trained healthcare professionals understand the extra physical and emotional burden they face in seeking mental health care.

If you or someone you love is struggling with mental health needs, please reach out to our team of qualified mental health specialists. You can call us at 301-345-1022 or send us a message online here. One of our team members will be standing by to help you find the confidential consultation you need.

When you think of the well-being of a child, you first think of basic needs: food, water, and shelter. Once these needs are met, however, it’s crucial for a child to have emotional and social wellness as well. In this article, we will explore the impact social wellness has on the overall health of a child and great ways for children to garner social support in their lives.

It comes as no surprise that as human beings, we all need connection with others, no matter what stage of life we are in. In fact, having social support is a social determinant of health (SDOH) that significantly impacts the health of an individual. After spending the last few years in and out of isolation due to the Covid-19 outbreak, social support is more important now than ever before. Having social support means having family members and friends you can talk to and seek advice from when life feels challenging and overwhelming. Knowing you’re not alone in your life journey, especially as a child, creates a sense of belonging and empowerment throughout one’s life.

4 Types of Social Support

Emotional Support. This type of support lets you know that people care about you and have empathy for your experiences. Emotional support often looks like people checking in on you to let you know they’re thinking of you, and that they are there if you need anything. As a parent, make sure your child knows you can be a sounding board for them. If you have family members who can also show up for your children in this way, even better!

Practical Help. This type of support is when people give you something tangible or offer a service to help you out. This could be in the form of money, making food when you are sick, or helping to pack when moving. Having family and friends show up in this way shows your child what it looks like to be present for people you love.

Sharing Points of View. This type of support can often come in the form of affirmations and encouragement. For example, pointing out your child’s strengths to them and reminding them they can do anything they put their mind to. It can also look like sharing another perspective if they are being hard on themselves. For example, if they are angry with themselves after receiving a bad grade on a test, you can help them see it as a learning experience and a way for them to grow.

Sharing Information. This type of support is when someone shares what they’ve learned from their own life experiences. For example, if another parent has a child who struggles with socializing, they can share some tips and tricks they’ve learned to help their child find and create social support.

The Importance of Social Groups and Extended Support

Children who are connected to their family, friends, and people in their community have opportunities to learn how to speak, share, and get along with others. When your child feels connected to people in your neighborhood, it often allows them to feel physically safe which can alleviate stress and worry. Simply riding bikes, going on walks, and saying hello to neighbors with your kids can create this sense of security for them.

In addition to engaging with your neighbors, getting involved in local organizations can also create social support for your child. Signing up for a sports team, musical theater, art class or summer camp are all great ways to help your child meet new friends and learn important social skills that can carry them through their lives.

Tips for Helping Kids Make Community Connections:

Spend time outside in your neighborhood playing on the playground, going to a local farmer’s market, or scheduling a playdate with neighborhood kids.

Show your kids that connection is a two-way street. If your neighbors or friends go out of town, offer to get their mail, or water their plants and take your child with you when you go. This will show your child how you show up for people you care about.

Make sure you make time for socializing with friends as well. Your child looks to you first and foremost for how they should act and live their own life.

Encourage your child to step out of their comfort zone and do something they may be scared to do. As a parent, it’s your job to push them into something social for their own well-being at times.