It’s the last day of July, and it’s the end of Disability Pride Month. Let’s go out with the final word from Jeffrey VanDyke. Jeff is an advocate for disabled people and an illustrator and author. When he brought up the idea of doing a Disability Pride Month piece or two it was in the idea that the goal is for others to understand that disability is just a natural part of life for some. Things of the past, like the “ugly laws” that could allow for the arrest of someone for their differences….well, society has grown past that, even though there’s a genuine felt threat today among the disabled community. For the final word though, Jeff wanted a very different approach. One that takes a really wise approach.
Start young. Wondering about a disabled person is probably not the first time they have experienced it. Seeing them as an anomaly however is on you. The message is that there might be a visible difference but internally, humans are humans. Feelings, emotions, joy, pain, anger, frustration, sorrow, hope, laughter and all of it. Is there a mobility device? Maybe a cain? Maybe a cognitive difference? How about those are just seen as part of someone? Simple as that.
To begin with kids is a great idea. If your child is exposed to a person with a disability, take the high road. “Yep, their legs don’t work, but look at how well they are able to get around in that chair that helps them out, isn’t that cool?” Maybe – “The talk differently, let’s slow down and pay closer attention..they have something important to say.” Beginning young and showing by example that respecting across diversity is an amazing way to approach life is a skill that will never be lost on a kid. Jeff even appreciates a child just asking directly. That way, they can see first hand that the disabled person is more like me than they thought.
We appreciate Jeff and his contributions to the channel. If you’d like to read more about Jeff, I’d recommend his book “We Choose To Be More Than Our Diagnosis” it’s on Amazon.
