Disability History Month, Why It Matters
Disability History Month is a time to reflect on the experiences, stories, struggles, and victories of disabled people throughout history. Each story, including mine, is a testament to the incredible resilience that is a hallmark of the disabled community. It's a celebration of the human spirit's ability to overcome challenges. Every November to December, Disability History Month challenges negative and ableist attitudes towards disability and advocates for more equal and inclusive policies. This year, let’s explore what it truly means to embrace difference, choose acceptance and understanding over judgment, and challenge societal barriers.
My Journey with Cerebral Palsy: Defying Expectations and Smashing Down Barriers
I was born with cerebral palsy, a neurological condition that affects my movement, muscle tone, and speech. From a young age, I have faced physical and social challenges that shaped my understanding of resilience and developed a stubborn, never-give-up attitude which never wavers. My parents fought hard for me to be educated in a mainstream school, which laid the foundations for my independence and social confidence, which hasn’t always been easy. Still, living with cerebral palsy has required me to adapt and navigate a world not always designed for disabled people.
My story isn’t about overcoming physical limitations; it’s about challenging misconceptions, especially the ones around my speech, capabilities and intelligence. This fits into the message of Disability History Month, which emphasises the Social Model of Disability. According to this model, it’s not our impairments but the societal and stereotypical barriers that ‘disable’ people. By removing these physical or attitudinal barriers, society can become more inclusive for everyone.
Cold Weather Challenges: Raising Awareness on Seasonal Struggles
As I have written in a previous blog and have explained on TikTok, the colder months bring unique challenges for disabled people, particularly those with cerebral palsy. Cold weather often worsens muscle stiffness and impacts balance, leading to heightened risks of falls and injuries. During these times, even daily tasks become more complex, and people with cerebral palsy need to adjust their routines to accommodate extended routine timings.
Disability History Month encourages empathy and awareness of more complex daily challenges, particularly affecting disabled people’s ability to participate in work and social settings. This seasonal perspective is an opportunity to increase education and understanding about how diverse disabilities are impacted by physical environments, which is crucial in developing accessible venues and spaces and in advocating for more inclusive policies.
The Role of AAC in My Life: Empowering Communication and Independence
For those who find verbally communicating challenging, Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) has been transformative and life changing. From early experiences with bulky devices to today’s more flexible and accessible technology, AAC has empowered me to communicate more effectively in both professional and social settings. This technology is not just a tool; it’s a lifeline that allows me to advocate for myself and connect with others, whether it's within the disability community or beyond. The role of technology in empowering communication for people with disabilities is a significant aspect of the disability rights movement, as it demonstrates the power of innovation in creating more inclusive societies.
Understanding and embracing diverse communication methods is imperative to building an inclusive society. By broadening our concept of communication, we create spaces where everyone can participate fully, regardless of their abilities.
The Legacy of Disability Rights in the UK: Recognising Progress
Disability History Month also reminds us of the legislative and societal progress in disability rights. Still, we have a long way to go until we become a fully accessible and inclusive society. The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) of 1995 was a landmark moment, as it was the first piece of UK legislation to protect disabled people from discrimination in employment, education, and services. This Act was later incorporated into The Equality Act 2010, providing even more comprehensive protections for disabled people. These legal advancements are milestones, pushing society towards the accessibility and inclusivity we advocate for today.
Celebrating Disabled Voices: Contributions in Culture, Arts, and Beyond
Throughout Disability History Month, we celebrate the cultural contributions of disabled individuals across fields such as literature, music, sports, and the arts. People like Stephen Hawking, who showed the world how intelligence and creativity could flourish despite his disabilities, and RJ Mitte, an actor with cerebral palsy who uses his platform to advocate for better representation and inclusion in the media, have left a lasting mark within the disability community and on our culture. Celebrating these voices helps broaden society’s perception of what disabled people CAN achieve.
Education and Awareness: Building Inclusive Foundations
Disability Awareness Month also strongly emphasises educating people about the lives and contributions of disabled people. Schools and educational organisations are continually encouraged to integrate disability awareness into their curriculums, helping reduce stigma from an early age. I firmly believe in advocating for disability awareness to be permanently installed into the national curriculum. I will continue my awareness surrounding this issue for as long as it takes. By learning about the experiences and achievements of disabled people, young students gain empathy and understanding, which are essential for building towards an inclusive future.
Moving Forward with Empathy and Understanding
Disability History Month offers an important and unique chance to deepen our understanding of what it means to live with disabilities like mine. However, awareness alone is not enough. Let’s use this month to inspire a continuous call to action that challenges us to make meaningful changes in our daily lives, communities, and workplaces. Let's not just stop at awareness but commit to making real, tangible changes that promote accessibility and inclusion.
Let’s go beyond words and actively promote accessibility and inclusion. Start conversations about accessibility, particularly in our workplaces and retail spaces, and advocate for representation in our media. When interacting with someone with a disability, practise patience, understanding, and open-mindedness. Genuine inclusivity happens when we make reasonable adjustments in everyday life, not just in special observances, as a token gesture. I encourage you to take concrete actions to promote accessibility and inclusion, whether advocating for better accessibility in your workplace or supporting media that accurately represents people with disabilities.
To gain more insight into the realities of living with cerebral palsy. I invite you to read my autobiography, Cerebral Palsy And Me. In it, I share my personal journey, the challenges, the triumphs, and the profound lessons I’ve learned along the way. You’ll also find my children’s books, which I wrote to educate and inspire young readers and parents of disabled children to embrace their differences and see value in each person’s unique abilities. My books are crafted from lived experiences, with heartfelt messages of hope, disability awareness, acceptance and resilience.
Together, let’s build a future where everyone can participate fully and live without limits, regardless of ability. Embrace differences and choose understanding over judgment, not just this month but daily.
