Disability Pride! (disability pride month 2025- July 2025)

 Hey all,

I haven't really posted a whole lot lately! July is disability pride month and I'm not sure if I will get this post finished before the end of the month, but I wanted to make a post about disability pride for disability pride month!

Despite being autistic and diagnosed early on, even in my 30s, I haven't really acknowledged disability pride month. This is not on purpose! I usually forget about it being disability pride month in July, and I'm usually more focused on trying to do autism acceptance things on Twitter in April for Autism Acceptance Month! This year and last year, however, I haven't been as active in autism acceptance on Twitter, particularly in April 2024 and April 2025.

I have written a few posts on here about disability and especially being autistic. I have written about disability not being a dirty word. It really isn't a dirty word! Disability may limit us day to day, but it's not necessarily a bad thing. I certainly wouldn't be me if I wasn't autistic. I wouldn't want to cure my autism at all. I used to think that once upon a time, that I wanted my autism cured, but it's a part of my identity.

Disability is all around us. It doesn't make us any lesser, even if there are non disabled people who may think that. Disability is who we are, and it's what we live with, and it doesn't make us monsters, it doesn't make us weak. If anything, we are stronger for taking on each day.

I used to be ashamed to be autistic, especially because autism and being autistic was usually associated with being high support needs. I am low support needs and I am very soon starting work with a support worker for my independent living program. I'm pretty independent but there are things I do need help with sometimes. I was originally diagnosed as having Aspergers, but that term is out of date and harmful, so I adopted the term autistic and I wear it now as a badge, not to be ashamed. My disability is not a stain upon my character, it's who I am.

There is a stigma around disability. But as I said earlier, it is all around us. A common disability is mobility issues. A lot of people as they get older rely on either a cane, walker or both to get around. There are many disabilities out there. Some are visible and some are invisible. Autism isn't always a visible disability. I am low support needs so many people can't tell I am autistic most times unless I tell them!

Even if your disability limits you in your day to day life, it is nothing to be ashamed of. Your feelings are valid even if you feel shame from your limits. I am passionate about autism acceptance especially as someone who is actually autistic who is coming to own and be proud of my disability. Different disabilities have different communities, and I don't just mean online! Different cities and towns have groups that provide community and support to those with that particular disability. I'm working with a support worker through the Independent Living program at my city's autism chapter. My province has many chapters and my city has one of the biggest if not THE biggest chapter in the province as my city is one of the larger cities in the maritime provinces and definitely the biggest city/town in my province! I've met my worker recently and I am so jazzed to work with her! She loves to organize, she loves dollarama, she loves plants and she's super cool! She shares a love of storage items like I do. It is a good fit already!

curlyalicia