For Disability Pride Month I wanted to write about how I came to identify as disabled…
When I became chronically ill in 2012 I didn’t instantly see myself as “disabled”, I didn’t even initially see myself as chronically ill. I think this was maybe because at the time I initially hoped that my health situation would be temporary and I’d soon get well and regain my old life back, but over time as it sunk it that I was in it for the long haul I began to identify myself as “chronically ill”.
As the months and years went by on the word disability and disabled crept into my life more. For example I needed to use disabled toilets, I had a disability parking badge, I received disability benefits and and among other examples I sometimes had to refer to myself as disabled instead of chronically ill as it was more understandable to able-bodied people in certain situations. My health in public also became more public as I had to start using mobility aids too, from a walking stick to crutches to now an a wheelchair but I still sometimes wear a Sunflower Lanyard to highlight that I have invisible disabilities too beyond my access needs for my wheelchair.
As time went on I also began to be more ‘dis-abled’ too - by the limits put upon me by my illnesses such as bad symptom days, by the barriers in society such as lack of accessibility in a building or by ableist attitudes and lots more things.
I slowly began to identify with the idea that maybe as well as being chronically ill I could also disabled too. More and more I felt more comfortable with the idea of being disabled and confident to present myself as a disabled person and being part of the disabled community. I didn’t know what the qualifications were to meet the criteria to be disabled but I felt within me that yes I was disabled too.
Under the UK Equality Act 2010 you are disabled “If you have a physical or mental impairment that has a ‘substantial’ and ’long-term’ negative effect on your ability to do normal daily activities.”
With the above two definitions yep I definitely do meet the definition of disability, but even if you do meet the criteria and would rather not identify as disabled that’s completely fine. Be who you feel comfortable being!
I now embrace being disabled and I’m happy to identify myself as disabled. feel proud to be part of the disabled community and I use my lived experience to help raise awareness: I have this blog, and also the opportunities I’ve done with Scope various M.E. charities plus some other random things.
Finding your identity isn’t easy; it was a bit of a grieving process when I accepted I was disabled as it felt almost a permanency to my chronic health conditions, like they were here to stay and this is who I am now. It was also joining a world of access issues especially now I’m a wheelchair user whenever I go out and the nightmare that can be and the exclusion so many people like myself and other disabled people face because the world isn’t designed for us especially when there are places that could so easily be made accessible if the venue wanted to. Or access issues with transport: taxis, buses, trains, planes even ambulances (yep in the UK a lot of NHS emergency ambulances don’t take wheelchairs on board!) Then there’s issues with work and getting assistance with work, disabled children getting the support they need in schools, lack of access in healthcare, the whole challenge with benefits and the stigma that some with that plus the paperwork and assessments, lack of disability representation and misrepresentation, ableism and so so so much more.
Disabled people are the largest minority any yet we are still fighting for equality and equity even in the most privileged of countries.
It’s nice to feel part of something, especially during Disability Pride Month seeing different disabled people coming together to celebrate their disabled identity and share our pride in having disabilities of all forms breaking down stigma and showing what needs to change in society to make it a better place for disabled people.
Hopefully the more we celebrate Disability Pride Month the more attention it will get to everyone.