“Disability Pride Month illustrates the need for systemic change.”

Laura Pettenuzzo shares how she came to embrace and celebrate her disability and highlights the barriers this community continues to face. 

July is my favourite month of the year. It should have been the month of my birth – and would have been, if I hadn’t arrived three-and-a-half months premature. It feels fitting, then, that Disability Pride Month is celebrated every year in July. 

Unlike other celebrations, such as LGBTQIA+ Pride Month in June, Disability Pride Month is not widely known about or recognised outside of the disability community, but it should be.

I used to be ambivalent about July. It’s the middle of winter in the Southern Hemisphere, a time when the cold weather tends to exacerbate the symptoms of my disability. But as I’ve come to embrace my disability, my attitude has changed. I’ve resolved to celebrate my disability rather than hiding or downplaying it and I’ve started to love this month. 

I love seeing my Instagram feed full of infographics and selfies from my friends and fellow advocates. I love seeing the disability pride flag shared in Facebook statuses and tweets. I love seeing people like me proclaiming their worth, and the strength it gives me to proclaim my own. But this month is about more than celebrating our joy. It’s also about advocating for our rights.

Disabled people continue to experience marginalisation in all areas of life. Recent research by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has revealed that 49 per cent of people with disability are not satisfied or merely somewhat satisfied with their lives. On the other hand, only 31 per cent of non-disabled people reported being not satisfied or somewhat satisfied.

A 2019 survey by Mission Australia found that 68 per cent of respondents with disability faced barriers to achieving their study and work goals, compared to 48 per cent of respondents without disability. 

And, in regards to healthcare, the Australian Bureau of Statistics found that 8.7 per cent of people with disability delay or do not see a GP when needed because of the cost. This is more than double the rate of non-disabled people (4.1 per cent).

These statistics barely touch the surface of the myriad of disparities between non-disabled and disabled people. They highlight the importance of a time and space that puts us in focus, for once. In an ableist society that frames us as a burden, July is a chance for us to reframe our existence and challenge the structures that disenfranchise us.

Disability Pride Month illustrates the need for systemic change, but it is also an opportunity for non-disabled individuals to support us. 

If you’re reading this and you’re disabled like me, I hope you can celebrate your existence this month, in whatever way feels best for you. And if you’re an ally, please take this opportunity to amplify our voices. Here are a few ways you can show your support:

• Read books by disabled writers. Autistic actress Chloe Hayden’s ‘Different Not Less’ (which shares the title of Temple Grandin’s earlier book) and the ‘Growing Up Disabled in Australia’ anthology are a great place to start!
• Donate to disability-led organisations such as the Disability Justice Network.
• Follow disability advocates on social media, like Eliza Hull or Chloe Sargent.