This July, The Institute for Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion (EDI) is celebrating Disability Pride!
While disability activists have been engaging with governments, institutions, and general society throughout history, the birth of the modern US Disability Justice Movement happened in the 1970s. Moments like the HEW building sit-in (1977) and the Capitol Crawl (1990) paved the way for vital legislation such as The Americans with Disabilities Act. Continuing to the present, people with disabilities have constantly been fighting for accommodation, access, and a system that will allow personal choice.
People on the Go Maryland, advocacy group involved in policy development and analysis: About Us | People On the Go Maryland (pogmd.org)
Antonia Hylton talks about her book about Crownsville Hospital, “Madness: Race and Insanity in a Jim Crow Asylum.” Author of book on one of America's last segregated asylums talks racism altering treatment (youtube.com)
This document is an investigative report into the conditions and transition plans of now-closed Maryland facility, Rosewood Center: Rosweood Center Findings Letter, October 7, 2009 (justice.gov)
Sub-Minimum Wage (Maryland): Nothing About Us Without Us: From Subminimum Wage to Meaningful Employment in Maryland | Kennedy Krieger Institute
Disability Rights Maryland: Home - Disability Rights Maryland (disabilityrightsmd.org)
Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities: Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities (kennedykrieger.org)
Maryland Service (Accessible Telephone Communication): MD Relay Home (maryland.gov)
Maryland State Library for the Blind and Print Disabled: Maryland State Library for the Blind & Print Disabled
Maryland ABLE Accounts: Home - MarylandABLE
Disability resources in the state of Maryland information- Maryland Disability Resources and Advocacy Organizations - Olmstead Rights
Maryland disability resources- Maryland Disability Services | Disability Resources
Sub-Minimum Wage (National): Selma Blair calls ‘sub-minimum wage for people with disabilities’ ‘out of touch and wrong’ (youtube.com)
The National Center for Disability, Equity, and Intersectionality: The National Center for Disability, Equity, and Intersectionality - To identify and reduce life-limiting inequities in healthcare, community living, and justice for people with disabilities (thinkequitable.com)
Autistic Self-Advocacy Network: Autistic Self Advocacy Network (autisticadvocacy.org)
YouTube Video on how to apply for disability- How to Apply for Disability Benefits Using SDI Online (youtube.com)
Easy to watch YouTube video on applying for disability TIPS- How to Apply for Disability: 3 Essential Application Tips (youtube.com)
What is ADA? What is the ADA? Basics and Definitions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (youtube.com)
Resources for the visually impaired- Organizations & Resources Supporting the Visually Impaired (nvisioncenters.com)
Great link for resources for deaf communities. Click on the link, then click on state-by-state resources, it will take you directly to your state's deaf community resources. Resources for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing Community | Different & Able (differentandable.org)
Cerebral Palsy information and resources- Home | Cerebral Palsy Foundation (cpresource.org)
The Invisible Disability Project offers resources and support when dealing with an invisible disability, creating a community- Invisible Disability Project | Disrupting the Silence
The Invisible Disabilities Association page- Home - Invisible Disabilities® Association
Gallaudet University: https://gallaudet.edu/
Crip Camp Documentary: Crip Camp | A Disability Revolution
Commemorating 30 Years of the Americans with Disabilities Act, this video highlights moments in the Disability Rights Movement through the past 100+ years: Commemorating 30 Years of the Americans with Disabilities Act | NowThis (youtube.com)
Human Neurodiversity Should Be Celebrated, Not Treated as a Disorder: Human Neurodiversity Should Be Celebrated, Not Treated as a Disorder | Op-Ed | NowThis (youtube.com)
Disability History Series Introduction: Disability History Series Introduction (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)
How Disability Pride Month Inspires Self-Love: How Disability Pride Month Inspires Self-Love (youtube.com)
Disability Language Style Guide: Disability Language Style Guide | National Center on Disability and Journalism (ncdj.org)
Identity-First Language: Identity-First Language - Autistic Self Advocacy Network (autisticadvocacy.org)
The Black Women Breaking the Stigma Around ADHD: The Black Women Breaking the Stigma Around ADHD - YouTube
The Midland Mencap Citizen Chat Podcast- This Podcast is run by people with learning disabilities. They discuss their personal experiences and offer advice/support to people who experience similar disabilities. The Midland Mencap Citizen Chat - Episode 1 - Midland Mencap
The Tilt Parenting Podcast- This podcast is specifically for parents of neurodivergent children. Ranging on topics from ADHD, to anxiety, autism, and learning differences. Home Page - Tilt Parenting
Invisible disabilities explained- What is an invisible disability? (youtube.com)
Since We’re Friends, an autism picture book- Since We're Friends: An Autism Picture Book: Shally, Celeste, Harrington, David, Singer, Alison: 9781616086565: Amazon.com: Books
Out of my Mind, a book about cerebral palsy- Out of My Mind (The Out of My Mind Series): Draper, Sharon M.: 8601400270417: Amazon.com: Books
Films on disability- top 30 films about disability (imdb.com)
TV shows featuring characters with disabilities- 13 TV Shows and Movies That Feature Characters (and Actors) With Disabilities You Can Watch (themighty.com)
Brief History of the Disability Rights Movement: Disability History: The Disability Rights Movement (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)
At the Institute for EDI, we’d like to highlight and center the use of the word, “Pride” in this month’s campaign.
We are proud of the incredible leaders who came before us in the work towards disability justice. History may not remember or properly acknowledge their bravery, joy, and fierce advocacy, but we unwaveringly honor their legacy.
We are proud of our disabled staff, colleagues, patients, and community. We are proud to acknowledge disability as a part of diversity and have an expectation of difference, whether immediately visible or not. We hope you are proud of all that you are.
Why the Sunflower?
In recent years, sunflowers have become a symbol of non-visible disabilities. At over 240 airports, organizations, and schools around the world, wearing a sunflower lanyard is a discreet way to indicate a need for accommodation or support. The sunflower was chosen for its meaning of happiness, strength, and universality.
Explore the video links below featuring these amazing disability leaders and activists!
Lead like... Judy Heumann
Fight like... Frank Stephens
Dream like... Haben Girma
Advocate like... Mat Rice and Tracy Wright
Build like... Tiffany Hammond
Challenge like... Kitty Cone
Believe like... Ed Roberts
Write like... Dr. Khadijah Queen
Inspire like... Alice Wong
Think like... Sejal Shah
Educate like... Shane and Hannah Burcaw
Persevere like... Yoshiko Dart
Judy Heumann was one of the instrumental founders of the Disability Rights Movement in the United States. She grew up in New York, experiencing the impact of an inaccessible school system. After graduating from Long Island University, Judy was denied her teaching license because of her disability. After an NY Times article, appearance on The Today Show, and suing the Board of Education, Judy was finally granted a teaching license. Judy was a leader of the Capitol Crawl, a major demonstration leading to the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Judy is legendary and her legacy will live on.
Judy’s YouTube channel including hundreds of interviews, stories, and resources: Judith Heumann LLC - YouTube
Frank Stephens is a public speaker, actor, writer, and activist with Down Syndrome. His work has been featured in major publications such as The New York Times and The Huffington Post. In 2017, he testified at the 1st Congressional hearing on the Importance of Down Syndrome research and resources. Frank has publicly spoken out about Ann Coulter’s use of the “R” word. He has served on various boards for organizations such as the Global Down Syndrome Foundation and Special Olympics Virginia.
Videos: Frank Stephens: Speaker and Advocate with Down Syndrome (youtube.com)
Haben Girma is a fierce advocate for people with disabilities. She is the first deafblind person to graduate from Harvard Law School. She is a proud woman of color and daughter of refugees who advocates, educates, and innovates. She has written extensively on her story and inclusion. Haben has also developed a communication system that allows her to communicate with others through a keyboard-to-braille computer device. She is known throughout the world for her powerful voice and leadership.
Video: How Haben Girma Became Harvard Law School’s First Deafblind Grad (youtube.com)
Book: Book – Haben Girma
Mat Rice and Tracy Wright are leaders within Maryland’s disability community, currently working as Public Policy Director and Director of Training, respectively, at People on the Go Maryland. They are incredible self-advocates and educators working on vital policy change within the state and beyond. In 2009, Tracy assisted in the transition to community life for former residents of the Rosewood Center. Mat played a huge role in the passing of the Ken Capone Equal Employment Act of 2016, abolishing the payment of subminimum wage in Maryland.
People On the Go Maryland | Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Advocacy (pogmd.org)
Tiffany Hammond is the brilliant mind behind the popular social media account, “Fidgets and Fries.” She is an autistic self-advocate, who is also raising her two autistic children. She is a speaker, activist, and writer giving particular focus and attention to Black Autistic stories and experiences. Tiffany travels the US teaching communities about intersectionality within autism advocacy. Her children’s book, A Day with No Words, is a beautiful account of a trip to the park with her son.
Kitty Cone was a groundbreaking leader of the Disability Rights Movement. In 1977, she led a 28-day sit-in of the HEW building in San Francisco. This sit-in called for the enforcement of section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act which stated that organizations receiving federal dollars cannot exclude people with disabilities. Kitty led with power, confidence, and strength. In addition to disability rights, Kitty was an anti-racist, anti-war, anti-poverty lesbian, who forever changed the movement.
Kitty Cone: Advocate for Disability Rights | Smithsonian American Women's History Museum (si.edu)
Videos: How Did Kitty Cone Change Disability Rights? - YouTube
Ed Roberts has come to be known as “the father of the Independent Living Movement.” He was born in 1939 and contracted polio as a young teenager and used an iron lung. He desired higher education, and through his activism, became the first student at The University of California, Berkeley to use a wheelchair. He believed that everyone had a future and right to live in the community. He advocated for peer learning, inclusive leadership, and political engagement. Roberts also co-founded the World Institute on Disability with Judy Heumann. His legacy is profound and continues to this day.
Video: ED ROBERTS: His Words, His Vision (youtube.com) (this video has loud background sounds). Ed Roberts (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)
Dr. Khadijah Queen is a scholar, writer, and artist. She holds a PhD in English and Literary Arts. Dr. Queen is the author of 6 books and many articles and poems. She is also a caregiver and disability self-advocate. She approaches her teaching with flexibility, understanding, and accommodation.
Late Diagnosis Starting with a Tweet by Khadijah Queen - Animation (youtube.com)
Alice Wong is the founder and director of the Disability Visibility Project, a member of the National Council on Disability, and part of the “Crip the Vote” political group. She is also a thoughtful, collaborative, writer and activist who is constantly working to dismantle ableism in our society. She believes in a long-term commitment to disability justice that is strategic and sustainable. A few of her advocacy areas include the Medicaid income and assets limits, accessible media, and AANHPI disability awareness.
About – Disability Visibility Project
Videos: Alice Wong on Being Told She Wouldn’t Live to Adulthood | The Businessweek Show (youtube.com)
Sejal A. Shah is a writer, teacher, author, and activist with bipolar disorder. She advocates and educates on invisible disabilities and accommodation in the workplace, particularly for South Asian communities.
An Essay on Neurodiversity by Sejal Shah | Kenyon Review Online
Shane and Hannah Burcaw are an interabled couple that run the hugely popular “Squirmy & Grubs” YouTube channel. They educate others [with plenty of humor thrown in], sharing about their lives, disability, caregiving, stigma, and legal/financial barriers. Shane’s nonprofit, Laughing at my Nightmare, provides adaptive equipment, assistive technology, and pathways to higher education for people living with disabilities.
Video: What is an interabled couple? with Shane and Hannah Burcaw (youtube.com)
How Did Squirmy and Grubs Meet? About Us!
Adaptive Devices | Laughing At My Nightmare, Inc. | United States
Yoshiko Dart grew up in Japan, graduating from college after a difficult childhood. She worked for Tupperware, Japan, where she became a top salesperson. Eventually she married, CEO, Justin Dart, Jr. Together, they became a force within the Disabilities Rights Movement in the United States with Justin being the outspoken, orator, and Yoshiko making decisions behind the scenes. They were instrumental in the crafting and passing of the American with Disabilities Act.
Visit The Institute for EDI's Anti-Racism Resources page here: Anti-Racism Resources | Chase Brexton Health Care
