Disability Pride Month is a month of raising awareness of disability as part of identity. It highlights inclusivity and recognising that disability is not something to hide. From its origins in the USA in 1990, Disability Pride Month has grown to be an annual, worldwide celebration of inclusivity and promotes the advantages of a society equitable for all.
Many disabled people globally take the opportunity to come together to share their pride in their disability being a part of their identity, alongside advocates for a more inclusive world.
For me, this is an important time of year. I used to try and hide the way my condition affected me and avoid anywhere I expected to face barriers to access but now I am able to find strength in what I once perceived as weakness. I don't feel ashamed of my past feelings about my disability; they led me to the strength I have now which I channel into working to bring down barriers to access wherever possible. One way I'm proud to do this is through working with teams at historical places, including West Horsley Place as Chair of the Access Panel. Through this work I get to meet great people all working together towards a shared end goal of reducing barriers to access. I'm finally at a point of pride in who I am, and Disability Pride Month reminds me of that.
What Disability Pride means for West Horsley Place
Here at West Horsley Place, we are striving to be a place of inclusivity, a place where our heritage, spaces, events, and opportunities are accessible, removing barriers to accessibility wherever possible, and monitoring our progression to ensure we are staying on the right track to achieving these goals.
As well as affirming our commitment to being inclusive and recognising the advantages — for us, our people, and our visitors — of equity, diversity, and inclusivity, we want everyone to feel able to share their pride in their identity as a disabled person, this month and always.
The Disability Pride Flag
Image of left to right diagonal stripes against a dark grey background. Stripe colours are blue, yellow, white, pink, and green. Image attribution: Ann Magill, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Disability Pride flag represents:
❤️ Physical disabilities
💛 Cognitive and learning disabilities
🤍 Invisible and undiagnosed conditions
💙 Mental health conditions
💚 Sensory conditions
West Horsley Place Access Panel
If you would like to join our access panel and help us remove barriers to access wherever we can, please get in touch by contacting info@westhorsleyplace.org
