How to Be An Ally During Disability Pride Month

July is the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, also known as the ADA, and so it's the month of Disability Pride. Disability Pride Month honors the disabled community, from those who have advocated for human rights to those who have achieved great accomplishments, and, similar to LGBTQIA+ Pride Month, also honors the struggles the community continues to face.

A celebration that has been going on for about two decades now, Disability Pride spans the month of July with various activities. We spoke with two disability advocates and educators, both of whom live with disability themselves, in order to provide you with easy, actionable ways you can be a positive force for this month and beyond.

Accept Disabled People As They Are

"Don’t try to change them or fix them," suggests Charlotte Bramford, founder of Living With ME. As someone who has been bedbound with ME/CFS for years, she supports thousands of others suffering from the illness through her website.

Being intolerant of others does not make us happy and only divides us. Do the work to understand that someone who is disabled is not looking to be changed; that will lead to more happiness for you both.

Educate Yourself

Chelsea Bear, a digital creator and educator who lives with cerebral palsy, suggests immersing yourself in reading books by disabled authors. That will help you better understand the community without requesting emotional labor from disabled people. Bear recommends the following books:

Include Disabled People, Rather Than Assuming They Can't Join You

Bramford tells us that whether or not your disabled friends and loved ones will be able to join you in activities, it's the right move to invite them. "Support your disabled friend by including them in everything," she suggests. "They may not be able to take part in all events, they may have to cancel at the last minute if symptoms flare."

In addition to the invitation, she says that if someone cancels, you should "be understanding and realize that it doesn’t mean they don’t want to be involved." In time, you'll have better luck keeping your disabled friends close without either of you feeling pressured socially. A relaxed attitude is ideal for everyone.

Don't Offer Unsolicited Medical Advice

Bramford ran an Instagram survey in which she asked her audience for their opinions about receiving advice they didn't ask for. Of her respondents, only 6% said they found it helpful. "People said it made them feel annoyed, frustrated, irritated, exasperated, looked down on, patronized, disrespected, violated, insulted, angry," she explains.

Those of all ages and abilities don't benefit from unsolicited medical advice, so it's a great habit to break at large for the sake of everyone in your life.

Amplify Disabled Voices

In addition to following disabled creators, Bear recommends we "amplify their voices throughout the month by sharing their content and having meaningful conversations with people in your life to help spread awareness and acceptance."

She suggests following creators "with varying disabilities that share their first-hand experiences of living with their disability." If you are unsure where to begin in following disabled creators, you can start with the two giving us tips here.

Advocate for Inclusivity

You may not have noticed that your company's marketing campaigns don't include disabled people, just like countless people didn't realize their companies don't have people of color in their marketing until recent years. Take note of representation, or lack thereof, and fight for inclusion if you're in a position to do so.

Bear says, "whether it's prioritizing that people with disabilities are included in your marketing campaigns or ensuring a disabled child isn't excluded from an activity in your classroom, the more people advocating with us, the better." Additionally, Bear notes that hiring disabled people is important as well. Having more people with disabilities in your organization makes it more equitable, as is having more LGBTQIA+ employees.

Be Mindful of Other's Limitations

"Loneliness and isolation are big problems for people with chronic illness. You often lose friends as you lose your ability to be active. Find a way to adapt your friendship and be mindful of your friends' limitations."

My own wellness book, How to Be Well When You're Not, deals extensively with the loneliness I experienced through a half-decade of chronic illness and contains numerous tools to help those experiencing chronic illness feel less alone.

Listen and Be Supportive

"Life with a disability can be tough," says Bramford. She says we should "try sitting with your loved one and offering a comforting ear. Acknowledge how difficult life is for them. Provide them with support without suggesting solutions." Bear adds that you can be a supporter of disabled people "by listening to our stories and finding ways to get involved, even if that simply means being less judgmental when you see someone in a wheelchair going by."

The more we eliminate "main character syndrome," the better off we all are. Understanding that others are suffering and need our support more than our opinions makes life better for everyone.

Create Accessible Content

You might not give much thought to how easy, or not, the audio and visuals of your own social media or other digital content is, but it's worth thinking about. Make the needed changes to ensure that everyone is able to absorb and understand what you share.

"By simply adding captions to online videos or making easy-to-read graphics, you can ensure more people are able to access whatever messages you're putting out," explains Bear. "There's tons of resources online that can help you find easy ways to be more inclusive."

Understand That You Could Be Next 

Beat points out a simple fact for us: "The disability community is the only minority group that anyone can join at any time in their lives." We never know when illness or injury will strike. While that is of course, not the only reason we should care about disability awareness, it's yet one more reason to. "While issues that disabled people may face may not directly impact you today, they're still something you should care about."

Even if you are fortunate enough to live a long life without ever experiencing disability, the more you have educated yourself and advocated for those with disabilities, the better you've made the world around you.