Key Takeaways From Disability Pride Month

As Disability Pride Month comes to an end, it's important that we don't also allow disabled pride to end.

Disability Pride Month is important not only for the celebration of disabled identity, but also for the opportunity to bring awareness and education to the wider non-disabled community. I have compiled a list of the top 10 takeaways from Disability Pride Month with non-disabled people and allies in mind.

So please, if you are not disabled and willing to learn and grow your perspective, read on for your top takeaways from this Disability Pride Month...

A young woman is holding her tortoiseshell cat up against her and smiling. The Disability Pride Flag takes up the background.

Top 10 takeaways for allies this Disability Pride Month:

1. Use the words "disabled" and "disability". They are not negative words, they are neutral despritive words. Please don't use terms such as "differently-abled", "special abilities" or "handicapable". These words are made up and infantilising.

2. Do not offer unsolicited advice. We know ourselves better than you do and we are more than capable of doing our own research and communicating with our own medical teams. We don't need your advice - thanks but no thanks.

3. Following on from unsolicited advice, do not assume you know more than us about our disability. We know our own brains and bodies much better than you do.

4. Don't make assumptions. 90% of disabled people have a hidden disability. This means that there are plenty of disabled people living their lives that do not look visibly disabled. So don't judge, jump to conclusions or make assumptions - after all, assumptions just make an "ass" out of U and me.

5. Offers of help and assistance are always welcome, but please accept it when a disabled person declines your offer.

6. Say "hello". It is impolite to approach strangers and ask about their disability. Remember your manners and remember to start a conversation first with a simple "hello".

7. You are not entitled to another person's medical history.

8. Remember that accessibility is for everyone. Many tools first developed for disabled people (such as electric toothbrushes, elevators and more) also benefit people outside of the disabled community. Everyone benefits from increased accessibility.

9. Don't ask a disabled person weird intimate questions about their sex life. Don't ask about their sex life at all. How would you feel if they asked about yours?

10. And finally, remember that the disability community is the largest minority group that you can become a part of at any time. Treat disabled people how you would want to be treated.