July marks a special occasion as we come together to celebrate Disability Pride Month. This month-long observance aims to raise awareness, honor the achievements of individuals with disabilities, and foster a society that embraces diversity and inclusion. It is a time for acknowledging the unique strengths and capabilities of people with disabilities, as well as the challenges they face in their daily lives. In this blog post, we’ll delve into the significance of Disability Pride Month, the history behind it, and the vital role it plays in creating a more equitable and compassionate world.
Understanding Disability Pride
Disability Pride is not merely about celebrating one’s disability; it’s a movement that advocates for acceptance, respect, and equal rights for people with disabilities. It encourages a shift in perspective from a focus on limitations to recognizing the vast potential and talents of disabled individuals. Just as we celebrate achievements and milestones in our lives, Disability Pride Month encourages us to recognize and appreciate the unique accomplishments and contributions of people with disabilities to our communities.
History and Evolution
The roots of Disability Pride Month can be traced back to the disability rights movement in the United States during the late 20th century. Disabled activists, inspired by other civil rights movements, began organizing protests and advocating for greater accessibility, non-discrimination, and social inclusion.
One pivotal moment in this movement was the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26, 1990. This groundbreaking legislation prohibited discrimination against individuals with disabilities and mandated accessibility measures across various sectors, such as employment, public services, and transportation. As a result, July has become an important month for recognizing disability rights and celebrating progress while acknowledging that there is still work to be done.
Challenging Stigma and Stereotypes
Disability Pride Month provides a platform to challenge the stigma and stereotypes that have long surrounded people with disabilities. It’s crucial to understand that disability does not define a person’s worth or potential. By promoting Disability Pride, we can foster an environment that encourages dialogue and understanding, breaking down barriers between people of all abilities.
Promoting Inclusivity in Society
An inclusive society is one that celebrates diversity and ensures that everyone has equal opportunities and access to resources. Disability Pride Month reminds us of the importance of building a world that embraces and accommodates the needs of all individuals, regardless of their physical, sensory, intellectual, or developmental differences.
This inclusivity extends to education, the workplace, public spaces, and digital environments. It involves not just physical accessibility, but also the cultivation of attitudes and mindsets that respect and value the contributions of people with disabilities.
Amplifying Voices and Empowering Advocacy
Disability Pride Month is also an opportunity to amplify the voices of disabled individuals and their allies. It serves as a reminder that advocacy and activism are essential for effecting positive change. When we actively listen to the experiences and perspectives of people with disabilities, we can identify and address the barriers that hinder their full participation in society.
Take Action: How to Support Disability Pride Month
1. Educate Yourself: Take the time to learn about the challenges and experiences faced by people with disabilities. Read books, watch documentaries, and follow disability activists on social media to gain a broader understanding.
2. Raise Awareness: Share information about Disability Pride Month and the disability rights movement with friends, family, and colleagues. Use social media to spread positive messages about disability pride and empowerment.
3. Advocate for Inclusion: Encourage your workplace, schools, and community organizations to prioritize accessibility and inclusion. Advocate for policies that promote equal opportunities for disabled individuals.
4. Support Disability Organizations: Donate or volunteer with organizations that work towards disability rights and inclusion.
Conclusion
Disability Pride Month is a time of reflection, celebration, and action. It reminds us that disability is not a limitation but a facet of human diversity that enriches our communities. By embracing disability pride, we foster a culture of acceptance, compassion, and empowerment. Let us stand together as allies, ensuring that people with disabilities can live their lives with dignity, respect, and equal opportunities. Together, we can build a more inclusive and vibrant world for all. Happy Disability Pride Month!
Self-esteem is defined as confidence in one’s own worth or abilities; self-respect. How’s your self-esteem lately? Mine could use some improvement, especially with being inside my home for nearly a year now. Add to that my disabilities, the strains of caregiving, worrying about world problems and life in general, and neglecting myself, I set myself up for depression and a slight loss of self-esteem. Sometimes, because I put myself last all the time, which isn’t healthy, I find myself doubting my worth and abilities.
So what’s the remedy then? I like the information found on the Mayo Clinic Website. You can read it below, or take a gander at the site by clicking the link provided.
Self-esteem: Take steps to feel better about yourself
If you have low self-esteem, harness the power of your thoughts and beliefs to change how you feel about yourself. Start with these steps.
Low self-esteem can negatively affect virtually every facet of your life, including your relationships, your job and your health. But you can boost your self-esteem by taking cues from types of mental health counseling.
Consider these steps, based on cognitive behavioral therapy.
1. Identify troubling conditions or situations
Think about the conditions or situations that seem to deflate your self-esteem. Common triggers might include:
A work or school presentation
A crisis at work or home
A challenge with a spouse loved one, co-worker, or another close contact
A change in roles or life circumstances, such as a job loss or a child leaving home
2. Become aware of thoughts and beliefs
Once you’ve identified troubling situations, pay attention to your thoughts about them. This includes what you tell yourself (self-talk) and your interpretation of what the situation means. Your thoughts and beliefs might be positive, negative, or neutral. They might be rational, based on reason or facts, or irrational, based on false ideas.
Ask yourself if these beliefs are true. Would you say them to a friend? If you wouldn’t say them to someone else, don’t say them to yourself.
3. Challenge negative or inaccurate thinking
Your initial thoughts might not be the only way to view a situation — so test the accuracy of your thoughts. Ask yourself whether your view is consistent with facts and logic or whether other explanations for the situation might be plausible.
Be aware that it can be hard to recognize inaccuracies in thinking. Long-held thoughts and beliefs can feel normal and factual, even though many are just opinions or perceptions.
Also, pay attention to thought patterns that erode self-esteem:
All-or-nothing thinking. You see things as either all good or all bad. For example, “If I don’t succeed in this task, I’m a total failure.”
Mental filtering. You see only negatives and dwell on them, distorting your view of a person or situation. For example, “I made a mistake on that report and now everyone will realize I’m not up to this job.”
Converting positives into negatives. You reject your achievements and other positive experiences by insisting that they don’t count. For example, “I only did well on that test because it was so easy.”
Jumping to negative conclusions. You reach a negative conclusion when little or no evidence supports it. For example, “My friend hasn’t replied to my email, so I must have done something to make her angry.”
Mistaking feelings for facts. You confuse feelings or beliefs with facts. For example, “I feel like a failure, so I must be a failure.”
Negative self-talk. You undervalue yourself, put yourself down or use self-deprecating humor. For example, “I don’t deserve anything better.”
4. Adjust your thoughts and beliefs
Now replace negative or inaccurate thoughts with accurate, constructive thoughts. Try these strategies:
Use hopeful statements. Treat yourself with kindness and encouragement. Instead of thinking your presentation won’t go well, try telling yourself things such as, “Even though it’s tough, I can handle this situation.”
Forgive yourself. Everyone makes mistakes — and mistakes aren’t permanent reflections on you as a person. They’re isolated moments in time. Tell yourself, “I made a mistake, but that doesn’t make me a bad person.”
Avoid ‘should’ and ‘must’ statements. If you find that your thoughts are full of these words, you might be putting unreasonable demands on yourself — or on others. Removing these words from your thoughts can lead to more realistic expectations.
Focus on the positive. Think about the parts of your life that work well. Consider the skills you’ve used to cope with challenging situations.
Consider what you’ve learned. If it was a negative experience, what might you do differently the next time to create a more positive outcome?
Relabel upsetting thoughts. You don’t need to react negatively to negative thoughts. Instead, think of negative thoughts as signals to try new, healthy patterns. Ask yourself, “What can I think and do to make this less stressful?”
Encourage yourself. Give yourself credit for making positive changes. For example, “My presentation might not have been perfect, but my colleagues asked questions and remained engaged — which means that I accomplished my goal.”
You might also try these steps, based on acceptance and commitment therapy.
1. Identify troubling conditions or situations
Again, think about the conditions or situations that seem to deflate your self-esteem. Once you’ve identified troubling situations, pay attention to your thoughts about them.
2. Step back from your thoughts
Repeat your negative thoughts many times or write them down in an unusual way, such as with your non-dominant hand. Imagine seeing your negative thoughts written on different objects. You might even sing a song about them in your mind.
These exercises can help you take a step back from thoughts and beliefs that are often automatic and observe them. Instead of trying to change your thoughts, distance yourself from your thoughts. Realize that they are nothing more or less than words.
3. Accept your thoughts
Instead of fighting, resisting or being overwhelmed by negative thoughts or feelings, accept them. You don’t have to like them, just allow yourself to feel them.
Negative thoughts don’t need to be controlled, changed or acted upon. Aim to lessen the power of your negative thoughts and their influence on your behavior.
These steps might seem awkward at first, but they’ll get easier with practice. As you begin to recognize the thoughts and beliefs that are contributing to your low self-esteem, you can counter them or change the way you think about them. This will help you accept your value as a person. As your self-esteem increases, your confidence and sense of well-being are likely to soar.
In addition to these suggestions, try to remember on a daily basis that you’re worth special care. To that end, be sure to:
Take care of yourself. Follow good health guidelines. Try to exercise at least 30 minutes a day most days of the week. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables. Limit sweets, junk food, and animal fats.
Do things you enjoy. Start by making a list of things you like to do. Try to do something from that list every day.
Spend time with people who make you happy. Don’t waste time on people who don’t treat you well.
June is an awareness month for PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder).
According to the National Center for PTSD, there are currently about 8 million people in the United States alone with PTSD. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder occurs after a person has experienced some sort of severe traumatic event in life. Despite what you may think, this is not a rare occurrence, with around 7 or 8 people out of 100 experiencing it during their lifetime.
The Mayo Clinic groups symptoms into four types: intrusive memories, avoidance, negative changes in thinking and mood, and changes in physical and emotional reactions. These symptoms can vary over time or vary from person to person.
Get out your calendars! June is Awareness Month for APS, Tourettes, Cataracts, Migraine and Headaches, and June 27th is PTSD day! This month, I’ll be covering these topics and more.
APS, or Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome: occurs when your immune system mistakenly creates antibodies that make your blood much more likely to clot.
Tourettes: A nervous system disorder involving repetitive movements or unwanted sounds.
Cataracts: Cataracts are cloudy areas in the lens of the eye that can cause changes in vision. Symptoms of cataracts include cloudy or fuzzy vision and sensitivity to glare. Cataracts are treated with surgery.
Migraine: A severe throbbing pain, generally experienced on one side of the head.
Headaches: There are over 150 types of headaches, but the most common types include: tension headaches, migraine, cluster, chronic daily headaches, sinus, exercise, and so many more.
PTSD: Post-traumatic stress disorder: A mental health condition that develops following a traumatic event.
These are the topics we’ll cover this month. If you have any questions or comments or would like to add your experiences please send me a comment through the contact me page.
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