Where’s MY Rainbow?

Did you know that July is Disability Pride Month?

Is your supermarket displaying themed items to show how it welcomes disabled customers? Is your TV streaming service promoting disabled content? Are you tired of hearing endless news reports about the misuse of disabled bays?

Of course not.

But.

22% of the UK population identifies as disabled, compared to 3% identifying as LGB, and 18% from an ethnic minority.

The purpose of this post is not to deny the persecution experienced by other marginalised groups. Discrimination is a daily reality for all of us, whatever the shiny TV adverts say.

My point is that disability is routinely ignored in conversations about diversity. Singers such as Beyoncé have had to re-record songs that included the word sp*z. Poetry magazines often fast-track submissions for BIPOC or LGBTQ writers. Hotels don’t have lifts. Coffee shops have steps. Accessibility is an afterthought, an inconvenience, a sorry it’s an old building luxury.

Audio blog

Some things are finally changing. I just saw three TV ads featuring disabled people. Terrestrial dramas and comedy shows featuring disabled characters, thought-provoking podcasts and documentaries are at least starting a conversation.

I want #disabilitypride trending on Twitter. If you go somewhere with stairs, please ask where the lift is. I want disability automatically included in discussion of minorities. Disabled people should be allowed to feel pride too.