Catalyst Ranch strives to be inclusive of all people because we believe that when we all truly work together, the knowledge and experience each person has from their background or culture will help create the most amazing things. Being conscious of other perspectives can help us learn valuable lessons and help stimulate new ideas. Immersing ourselves in another culture or group dynamic is a key pathway to innovation.
July is special because it lifts up an important community: People with disabilities. Disability Pride Month was established to commemorate the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26th, 1990. This is a keystone measure that secured the rights and benefits of all people who deal with disability. It gives security to people who need it, who were previously left with little to no assistance.
The Disability Pride Flag has five stripes across a field of black, which symbolizes mourning for disabled people who have lost their lives due to illness, ableism, negligence and suicide. The Red stripe represents people with physical disabilities; Gold, neurodiversity; White, invisible and undiagnosed disabilities; Blue, emotional and psychiatric disabilities; and Green, sensory perception disabilities.
Today, Disability Pride Month has grown in its focus to highlight many more aspects of the lives of people with disabilities and the issues they face to this day. Because of the work of the disability community and their allies, today there is more discussion on mental health, and more funding is dedicated to support groups and outreach programs and accessibility.
We owe a lot of this progress to gatherings by this community. Happening at neighborhood and city and even the national level, those events further awareness and visibility even mainstream media, which leads to more connections among and outside of the community, further growing Disability Pride.
One such event is the Disability Pride Parade in Chicago. It’s a fun but also reaffirming way that people with disabilities can feel proud and support each other while marching and celebrating through the streets. Not only being recognized but removing the stigma they’ve dealt with and getting support and respect from those who come to see the parade. This inclusive event with disabled and non-disabled people is a great way to educate, celebrate, and build new connections and friendships in our shared community.
Chicago’s Disability Pride Parade takes place this Saturday, July 20th, beginning at 11am in the Loop. Find more info at www.disabilityprideparade.org.
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