Yesterday was International Day of People with Disabilities. How did I celebrate?
– I bought a belt for my elderly father and went grocery shopping with my mom
– I did laundry
– I put some Thanksgiving leftovers in the freezer
– I went to archery practice and taught two students
– I accepted a talk on a panel
In other words, I did stuff that everyone else does every day.
The only difference is I did it using a cane and a wheelchair.
My needs are not special. My abilities are not different. The only time I have issues is when others create barriers that I cannot get past or use non-inclusive language.
Celebrate the true meaning of IDPD by:
1) Calling out barriers when you encounter them, even if they don’t impact you
2) Not creating new barriers
3) Using disability-related language that your audience is comfortable with (hint: this isn’t it https://www.linkedin.com/…/urn:li:activity…/)
And do these three things every day of the year. Make it part of your default behavior and not something remembered just on holidays.
When we stop the need for celebrations, that is when underrepresented groups can finally rest a little.
alt: Facebook “Marked safe from” meme – Marked Safe From being called “Differently Abled” today.