The Dangling Conversation And The Search For Disability Pride

One must understand that the pursuit of disability pride is stretched across the great plains between the personal and communal. Much like the sentiments of singer-songwriter Paul Simon when he wrote “And the dangling conversation, And the superficial sighs, Are the borders of our lives”, we find dignity in the mundane of our personal everyday lives to the communal fight of stigma, ableism, and civil rights. It is this balance that is helping to breathe life into the meaning of Disability Pride in our modern culture. As we travel deeper into the country of disability, we must be aware of the symbols that are continuing to characterize this new sensibility of Disability Pride and focus on an element that is vital for continued growth, the significance of the conversation.

So, what is the conversation, and how does it extend to Disability Pride? The conversation is the bridge between the personal and the communal. We are at a moment in human history where technology is creating a platform for individuals and community groups to represent themselves in an authentic way and be seen in how they want to be seen. Social media is redefining the landscape, highlighting both individuals with disabilities and communities to be represented in a way where they have ownership of their own narrative. In this evolution, authentic representation is fundamental, and the capacity for those with disabilities to be seen, heard, and listened to is entering a new phase. These platforms give persons with disabilities the opportunity to converse with the larger culture and show who they truly are and who they are becoming.

So why does this matter? This shift signifies a psychological breakthrough that has a true impact on the meaning and value of Disability Pride. It creates a dialogue offering an intersection where realism and trust can meet. Historically, persons with disabilities were continually ostracized due to numerous reasons, creating a level of mistrust. We have come to an inflection point where the intersection of technology, policy, activism, arts, and commerce are beginning to redefine the conversation and shaping a different reality leading to a new age of Disability Pride on a global stage. We are finally at a point for the real conversation to begin!

Built on the backs of the great Disability Rights Leaders of the 1960s, 70s, 80s, and 90s, the 21st Century is being introduced to a new brand of disability leaders who are creating an innovative ecosystem of content creators, technologists, artists, designers and more inhabiting a growing intersectional world. This new cohort of leaders is once again redefining the disability narrative and expressing it in a multitude of ways from deeply personal art to the creation of technologies that are pushing the borders of our lives forward. However, as this new reality begins to take shape, it is important to engage in fresh conversations where the trust between business and government becomes a crucial touch point of growth.

To build a greater consciousness of Disability Pride there needs to be an understanding that the larger culture and the disability community need to build a level of trust and continue the discourse to push the conversation forward to understand that the value of equity and belonging is a win for all.

Disability Pride is not just a month in July, but an attitude that needs to be woven into the human story. Those stories whether personal or communal have merit and are critical to providing the sustenance for the progression of society.