As we celebrate America’s Independence Day and summer officially begins, it’s important to note that July is also Disability Pride Month. The month commemorates the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990, a landmark law banning discrimination against people with disabilities. This special month serves as an important platform to raise awareness of and celebrate the diversity and uniqueness of people with disabilities.
While disability people have made great strides in recent years, significant prejudice and barriers still exist. Equal treatment remains a challenge for many, both in the workplace and in society at large. It’s clear that we still have a lot of work to do.
The World Health Organization defines disability as the interaction between an individual’s health condition and a range of personal and environmental factors. Essentially, disability refers to a condition that limits movement, sensation, or activity. Disabilities come in many forms – intellectual, physical, sensory, and mental – and pose a range of challenges, from chronic pain and gastrointestinal disorders to anxiety, diabetes, and arthritis.
Disabilities affect individuals of all cultures, genders, religions, nationalities, and socioeconomic backgrounds. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly a quarter of Americans live with a disability. This is a noteworthy statistic. While many disabilities are visible, some are less visible. Recognizing this can help us create more inclusive and empathetic spaces.
At the Wright Center, we strive to foster a respectful and caring environment for everyone in our community, from patients to employees, residents, and fellow physicians. As health care professionals, we must constantly seek innovative ways to support people with disabilities. One effective approach is to embrace a person-driven model rather than a medical care model, which helps eliminate the shame and resistance that many experience in healthcare settings. This philosophy empowers individuals to take control of their own care and tailor their needs to the best that their community has to offer.
Changing our language can change how we think about disability. Using person-centred language avoids dehumanising stereotypes and labels and makes everyone feel more valued. For example, say “someone with diabetes” instead of “someone with diabetes”. Say “someone with mental illness” instead of “someone with mental illness”. Instead of calling someone an “addict”, say “someone with substance use disorder”.
And perhaps the best way to find the right words is to ask people how they want to be perceived.
These changes won’t happen overnight, but with practice and goodwill, they will take hold on a larger scale. Use awareness campaigns like Disability Pride Month to celebrate the incredible contributions of our family, friends, colleagues and acquaintances with disabilities. They have much to be proud of, and we all have much to learn from them.
Allison LaRussa, BA, CPS, RYT, serves as associate dean for health humanities, trauma-informed sanctuary frameworks, and justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging at the Wright Center for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education. For more information about the Wright Center, visit TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-230-0019.