They say only July is Disability Pride Month, but I always say: if we are really going to make a change, every month should be Disability Pride Month!
My name is Declan. I’m 15, I’m visually impaired, and I have always been into advocacy – and determined to make a change.
I strongly believe that if we work together to break down the barriers of exclusion and make a change together, we can create an inclusive world where everyone belongs and everyone can thrive.
Disability pride, all the time
If you go out this month – or any time – and see something that is not accessible, try doing something about it. Whether it’s contacting someone to improve accessibility, helping people navigate around barriers in public, or brainstorming ways to make things more accessible, every action counts and you can make a difference.
As a person who is visually impaired, I often encounter things that are not accessible in my daily life. But you know what? I sometimes consider that a good thing, because I want to find these accessibility issues and break them down so that we can address them – then everyone can be included, and we won’t need to run into those challenges anymore.
Thank you, and happy Disability Pride Month!
About the author
Declan Cassidy is a 15-year-old student at Perkins School for the Blind who has held a lifelong interest in accessibility and advocacy. In his free time, he enjoys reading, writing, music, art, and of course, being a disability advocate!
To learn more, you can connect with him on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram.
