Disability pride, it’s a funny one, isn’t it?

Disability alone is certainly a journey. Some days I love my disability and the experiences it has given me. Yet, it’s true that with the highs, there are low moments to contend with.

As a disability blogger and author writing about my lived experience of cerebral palsy and life as a disabled Occupational Therapist, I can be talking proudly at a conference one day. What people don’t see is the next day when I’m in bed most of the day struggling to keep my eyes open.

Yet, I am proud to be disabled and do have disabled joy.

If it wasn’t for my disability, I wouldn’t have the friends I do, I wouldn’t be an Occupational Therapist and I wouldn’t have had the opportunities I’ve had like writing and publishing a book about my experiences.

Therefore, I take pride in being disabled and the experiences I’ve had ableist or not because they have taught me so much about who I am, and where I want my journey to head in the future.

I love my disabled life.

This is why it’s important that others around us celebrate disability pride too and this includes healthcare professionals.

It’s 2024 and I would hope to think that all healthcare systems are working in line with the Social Model of Disability.

Yet, the reality is that many are not and instead are still working within the Medical Model. This latter model is not only damaging to individuals but is also a reason why disability pride is so important.

Yes, I know many factors contribute towards this but just imagine being on an upward journey in your disability pride just to be asked by a healthcare professional, ‘What’s wrong with you?’ and to be put in a box that was never made to fit you? I think that would burst anyone's bubble.

I also know some may never get close to experiencing disability pride and may not want to. Which, again, no judgement here. But have you ever considered that your feelings may be influenced by the constant negative and biomedical view that is reinforced by some healthcare professionals?

Healthcare professionals need to think about how they are portraying disability. I’m not saying they need to sugarcoat everything as we also need to be realistic.

But why do we spend so much time focusing on what people can’t do? Using standardised assessments based on a norm of people who don’t have a disability… is this really helpful? I think not.

As a child, I spent so much time working on my handwriting in occupational therapy, yet the reality was that I couldn’t handwrite and after a while got bored of trying because I was in pain.

I’d much rather work on what I can do and strengthen the skills I do have because disability or not, no one is good at everything. This would have massively improved my self-worth and attitude towards my disability.

I also reached out to ask why others think it’s important that healthcare professionals should promote disability pride.

“Well seeing that the majority of disabilities do require some sort of regular (ish) medical intervention, medical professionals who are aware of what disability pride is and tryto achieve can be better allies. If a disabled person struggles with acceptance of their situation, an encouraging and respectful attitude can help with avoiding the medicalisation of their disability and encourage them to harmonise with themselves and work towards a healthier balance if possible. Mindsets change through visibility, exposure and awareness, every day interactions and experiences. Medical professionals often focus more on the clinical image than the multifaceted person underneath.” - @stella.rn (Instagram)

 

“It’s important because it helps them to engage with the community and offer a more realistic approach to their patients when they become disabled.

A lot of the healthcare professionals believe disability is the worst thing that can happen to anyone and this affects how they give care in my opinion.” @BlindGirlMusings (X)

 

“So professionals can see positives rather than pathology! We only see those who have difficulties and are struggling, not those who live, love and thrive. It’s easy to forget that your caseload doesn’t represent the entirety of the population you serve.” @Benmhobson (X)

 

“Disabled people face many health inequalities. It’s our job, as health care professionals, to tackle the barriers that cause them. If disability is thought of as a dirty word or something to be hidden, stigma will grow, & the unjust treatment & poor healthcare experiences will never be addressed.” @Ben_imaging (X)

 

“For equity and coproduction of services, to ensure that professions are representative, to better understand and listen.” @e8Muffin (X)

 

Thank you to these contributors for their words of wisdom.

If you are interested in contributing to the conversation about disability pride, here are some top tips for getting involved:

• Celebrate disability - we all have differences let’s embrace them!

• Learn about disability pride yourself - theres a lot of great easy reading blogs out there.

• Spread the word about disability pride month from what you have learnt to educate others.

You won’t get it right all the time and that’s okay. Yet, on the whole the narrative of disability within healthcare is often negative and needs challenging.

Yes, ableism still exists and living with a disability requires navigating ableist systems which isn’t joyful, and neither are the symptoms of disability. But being disabled does come with many moments, of joy and that must be celebrated, being a part of this awesome community for one.

So, I’m asking you to not only help us spread that joy this month but all-year round.