Cher once famously stated: “You are only disabled if you believe so. With the right attitude and approach to Disability, anyone can succeed and go far.”

Some disability advocates object to the term “invalid” being used. Accordingly, AP style advises asking individuals what terms they prefer instead. People-first language tends to be preferred.

Helen Keller

If you are Living with a disability, it is important to remember that your limitations don’t define who you are as an individual. Everyone possesses unique strengths that should be celebrated. Below are quotes from Helen Keller that serve as reminders that limitations don’t need to stop us.

Helen Keller was an extraordinary educator, author and activist for people with Disabilities. Although blind and deaf herself, Helen managed to learn multiple languages, write several books and advocate for those living with disability despite these challenges. Helen’s life embodies the resilience and perseverance of human spirit – it stands as testament to its power.

Keep in mind that disability is a complex issue with no easy solutions. When writing about disability, use sensitive language and avoid terms like “mental retardation”, “lame brain” and similar terms. For a more inclusive description consider “people with an intellectual disability” or “differently abled”. If unsure which term best describes them ask the individual.

Educators must also emphasize teaching students about the achievements of people with disabilities as adults. This is particularly relevant when discussing figures like Helen Keller, who made significant contributions to American history as an adult despite being known primarily for her efforts at communicating as a child. Few students know she graduated from Radcliffe College and worked for the American Foundation for the Blind until her death in 1968, advocating for schools for blind students and braille reading materials. Later in her life she was involved with radical groups and corresponded with Eugene Debs who ran for president as an anticommunist candidate – these associations put her on FBI radar for possible communist connections.

Martina Navratilova

This quote serves as an inspirational reminder that anyone, no matter their limitations, can achieve their dreams and realize them despite whatever barriers may stand in their way. This holds particularly true for people living with disabilities who shouldn’t allow their conditions to restrict them; with proper mindset they can be just as successful as anyone else!

Navratilova, the former champion tennis player, has long been an advocate for women and girls. She campaigned tirelessly for LGBTQ rights and opposed the ban on trans athletes participating in college athletics. Her views on transgender equality have often caused division in society; some like powerlifter JayCee Cooper have called her out as being anti-trans while others cite her comments as being instrumental in passing anti-trans legislation across states nationwide.

In April 2021, Navratilova collaborated on writing an op-ed with out trans athlete Juniper Eastwood and Working Group co-founder Doriane Coleman to oppose outright bans of trans athletes competing in college sports proposed in North Carolina and elsewhere. She continues working with her group which comprises four out trans athletes to find a solution that protects cisgender women and girls while permitting trans athletes with male-sex-linked physical advantages to compete in female sports.

However, Navratilova will not consider Connecticut’s policy which was already approved by a federal judge and opened up to all girls regardless of whether they identify as cisgender or transgender. Furthermore, this policy ensures that no cis girl will have to compete against student athletes who transitioned before puberty has set in.

Martin L King

Martin Luther King was known for his exceptional civil rights leadership and inspirational quotes that promoted love and nonviolence; however, there are also numerous ones related to disability inclusion that demonstrate his belief that all humans possess equal potential for greatness regardless of any disability.

Disability remains a challenge for many organizations, particularly those working to address marginalized groups like racial and ethnic minorities or people living with disabilities. Partly due to stigma associated with disability and common misconceptions surrounding its definition.

People may fear offending those living with disabilities accidentally, leading them to avoid speaking to or ignore that individual altogether. Yet that would never be appropriate; those with disabilities deserve to be included in all aspects of life from meetings and presentations to emails and posters.

When writing about people with disabilities, it is essential to use “people-first language.” This type of reference refers to individuals by name rather than disability and helps remove stigma associated with disability terms. Referring to someone with Down syndrome by name rather than disease is one way. Additionally, some prefer being called differently abled rather than disabled. When in doubt about how best to refer to someone without disabilities (NCDJ suggests “people with disabilities”) or invisible disability (“invisible disability”) can also be an option but some individuals find this term offensive.

Neil Marcus

Neil Marcus is an iconic figure in disability culture as someone living with dystonia, an illness which makes speech difficult for him. The US playwright, poet and actor has famously stated: ‘Disability is art–an ingenious way of living.” Through acting or writing he encourages other disabled individuals to reach for their dreams.

Disabled memoirists break from accessibility norms by providing accommodations to non-disabled readers in order to encourage meaningful engagement with disability narratives. Two quotes serve as anchors in my exploration of this phenomenon: one is taken from Eli Clare’s book Brilliant Imperfection: Grappling with Cure in which she discusses how experiencing hardship can give rise to “brilliant imperfection,” while a line from Marcus’s long-running stage play Storm Reading asserts that disability itself can be seen as an art form.

As should be apparent, organizations must communicate to their entire workforce that including people with disabilities is an absolute priority. Inclusivity should be at the core of policies, budgets, staffing decisions and recruitment decisions. One effective approach is incorporating disability inclusion into the DNA of your organization, making sure it’s visible in all communications such as websites, brochures and promotional materials. Your team should embrace inclusion as an integral aspect of their organization’s mission and values; otherwise it risks becoming an afterthought or add-on later. At Bancroft Library’s Neil Marcus Papers are an abundance of such material: correspondence; writings relating to his plays; subject files; photographs and a small amount of audiovisual material.

Joan Scanlon-Dise

Disability awareness quotes serve to humanize people with disabilities and advocate for equality both at work and in society as a whole. They demonstrate that those living with disabilities can be just as productive and successful as those without them, with some quotes coming directly from disabled trailblazers, leaders, and activists to highlight struggles disabled people experience in professional environments while pushing inclusion of disabled individuals in all aspects of life.

People living with disabilities can face great difficulty, but they should remember that their attitude will determine their success in life. Attempt to overcome any obstacles which come their way and don’t give up hope; focus on doing well those things your disability doesn’t prevent you from doing while accepting those it does interfere with and don’t regret what has been lost due to disability.

Some disabilities may be permanent while others temporary; either way they will require ongoing medical care and support from family, friends and caregivers if their goals and dreams of living the life they envision are to be realized despite any restrictions due to a condition.

Many disabled individuals prefer the term “differently abled” over the terms “disabled,” “handicapped,” and “mentally retarded,” as this term does not refer to someone’s level of intellectual ability. But this phrase also has its own problems, with some individuals finding it condescending or offensive. NCDJ Recommendation: Avoid using made-up words like this outside direct quotes; rather ask your sources how they prefer being described and then choose one of their preferred terms when describing them.

The top disability awareness quotes encourage those living with disabilities to persist despite challenges they encounter. They remind us to remain brave and overcome any barriers we encounter on our path toward living a full and satisfying life. These quotes can also be used as part of celebrations for National Disability Employment Month by sharing them in presentations, meetings and internal emails as well as posting them up as decorations in offices to foster more inclusive workplace environments.

The post Disability Inclusion Quotes appeared first on Pensivly.