As a reminder, July is disability pride month! This pride month, I want us to especially think of:
Those with long-term/worsened disabilities because of their parents telling them to just work through it/get over it/"it's not that bad"
Those with disabilities stemming from childhood abuse
Those who know that they're disabled or suspect such, but can't get it diagnosed or checked out because of their parents/guardians disapproving
Those who know/suspect that they're disabled, but won't be diagnosed or checked out because they're "too young"
Those who struggle in or had to drop out of the harsh and mostly unaccommodating school system because of their disability or disabilities
Those who were lied to or not told they were disabled growing up so they could be raised "normal"
Those who have their privacy and autonomy violated as a combination of being disabled and being a child, as both of those groups are seen as not deserving their autonomy
Those who are disabled or had their disability (or disabilities) worsened because of the school system pushing them too far
Those who feel that they can never be one of the "normal" kids and that they'll always be isolated because of their disability or disabilities
Disabled folks who don't know or didn't know much about their disability as a kid because doctors would only explain to the parents/caretakers and no one bothered to talk to you
All disabled children having to deal with the intersectuality of being oppressed by both ableism and adultism.
Happy disability pride month and please start treating children and disabled people with basic respect and dignity!! They are autonomous beings! Act like it!
