by Scott Bartlett, Advocacy Specialist
July is an important month for disability advocacy. You might be aware that July marks the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. You might also be aware that July is recognized as Disability Pride Month. Did you also know July also marks the anniversary of an important part of disability advocacy history that took place here in Colorado in 1978? Did you know there is a disability pride flag? Please see the links below for more information about the “Gang of 19” and the disability pride flag.
Why is disability pride important? Disability pride is important to create positive change for the disability community. It is disability pride that fueled the advocacy efforts to forge disability rights as we know them today. For example, prior to the ADA and Olmstead, the focus of disability in America, was that disability is a deficit that requires treatment in institutional care. It is often called the medical model of disability. The ADA and other legislation changed the focus to align with the social model of disability, which comes from the idea that disability is a natural part of the diversity of humanity and that it is society that needs to change to accommodate people with disabilities, so that they can live as part of their communities.
I think a valuable part of disability pride month is to reflect and honor disability advocates who work to eradicate inequality and to increase accessibility for people with disabilities. Denver, July 5th, 1978, disability pride compelled 19 people with disabilities to block the intersection of Colfax and Broadway in protest of public transit buses that did not accommodate them. This group is now referred to as “The Gang of 19” and an important part of disability history in our nation. They were successful in bringing to light the inequality of Denver’s bus system and were successful in making Denver the most accessible U.S. city for public transit of its time.
Disability pride is also important for self-advocacy and personal well-being. It provides people with the means to embrace their disability as a unique part of who they are. It helps people understand that they have potential and value that isn’t diminished because of disability. It is disability pride that fuels self-advocacy just as it does systemic advocacy. If people don’t feel worthy and do not have personal value, they are not likely to advocate for their wants and needs.
The work we do has many positive outcomes. One such outcome is instilling disability pride through our programs and services. Disability pride is about empowerment. It is about self-awareness. It is about self-acceptance. It’s about focusing on strengths rather than weaknesses. It is everything we do at The Independence Center each month of the year to make sure that people with disabilities are known, valued, and included in the life of this community.
Link to the Disability Pride Flag: Have You Seen The New Disability Pride Flag? – RespectAbility
Link to The Gang of 19: “We Will Ride!” The Origin of the Disability Rights Movement in Denver | Denver Public Library Special Collections and Archives (denverlibrary.org)