This July we are acknowledging and celebrating Disability Pride Month. 

The first Disability Pride event took place in Boston in the USA in 1990. It has since grown into an international movement that champions inclusion, disability rights and acceptance.  

Moving beyond simple acceptance, Disability Pride actively rejects negative stereotypes and societal ableism, and advocates for taking pride in the unique identities and achievements of people with disabilities. 

It is also an opportunity to start constructive conversations and raise awareness about the barriers that disabled people face. 

Inspired by the rainbow flag of the LGBTQ+ community, the unique colours of the Disability Pride flag honours and celebrates groups within the disabled community and the experiences and challenges they face: 

 

  • Red - physical impairments and conditions
  • Gold - neurodiversity
  • White - invisible disabilities and disabilities that have not yet been diagnosed
  • Blue - emotional and psychiatric conditions, including mental illness, anxiety, and depression
  • Green - sensory disabilities, including deafness and hearing impairments, blindness and vision impairments, audio processing disorders and all other sensory impairments and conditions
  • The faded black background represents the victims of ableism, with the band of colours cutting through this darkness. 

 

What are we doing? 

  • Our main eBook platform Kortext actively supports accessible learning and has recently made several improvements to enhance accessibility including keyboard-only controls for all functionality and updated labels to improve the experience for screen reader users.
  • Details of accessibility features are now listed on our A-Z List of Databases
  • All students with qualifying print disabilities can sign up for RNIB Bookshare
  • If a document does not suit your style of learning or accessibility requirements, you can convert it using the SensusAccess tool
  • A range of titles from our eBook collections relating to disability can be found in our Disability and Neurodiversity Collection
  • If you would like to suggest an item for the library, you can use our Request It! service. 

 

Beyond the Library 

There are some amazing blogs and podcasts that promote Disability Pride not just in July but all year round. Here are a few of our favourites, all created by members of the disabled community: 

  • Disability Visibility Project – The Disability Visibility Project is an online community dedicated to creating, sharing, and amplifying disability media and culture.
  • Everything you Know About Disability Is Wrong – Aims to discuss the real issues, conversations and celebrations disabled people are having.
  • Disabled and Proud – An open, honest, and often very funny podcast in which guests discuss their personal experiences and explain why they are proud to be themselves.  

 

If you have any questions or would like more information about any of the resources listed, please contact us at: library@arden.ac.uk