Disability pride and making the West Midlands an exemplary region for disabled people: thought piece.

July marks Disability Pride Month, an important occasion dedicated to celebrating disability and recognising the diversity, strength, and contributions of disabled individuals. Despite its significance, Disability Pride Month remains relatively under-recognised and less widely discussed compared to other observances. The concept of “Pride” is strongly associated with the LGBTQ+ community and is widely celebrated by individuals and businesses across the globe, with visible displays such as rainbow-coloured logos throughout June. However, following these celebrations, conversations around diversity often wane. While both Disability Pride and LGBTQ+ Pride offer opportunities to highlight and support distinct protected characteristics, they are not inherently linked. Some individuals participate in both observances due to overlapping identities or like myself as ally who advocate for authenticity and inclusivity. This raises the question: why does Disability Pride receive comparatively less attention?

One potential explanation is that Disability Pride Month is relatively new, disabled voices are often not heard or have not been ‘loud enough’ and societal perceptions frequently frame disability as a challenge rather than something to be embraced and celebrated. Statistics from the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) illustrate ongoing disparities: nearly 800,000 disabled people reside in the region, yet only about 200,000 receive benefits. Additionally, the charity Scope estimate that the disability price tag has increased to £1,095 per month, representing an average annual additional cost exceeding £13,000 for disabled individuals, just to have the same standard of living as non-disabled people. Disabled people in the West Midlands experience the second largest pay gap nationally and earn the lowest wages among English regions. Although accessibility measures, such as designated spaces on public transport are present, they are often inadequately implemented with luggage, buggies or people filling such spaces. Services like British Sign Language interpretation at events are often overlooked or considered burdensome when requested. These challenges underscore that Disability Pride is not only about celebration but also about acknowledging the resilience of disabled people who continue to thrive amid ableist structures.

In the West Midlands, the Social Model of Disability forms the foundation of efforts toward inclusion. This model asserts that societal barriers, rather than individual impairments or differences, are the primary disabling factors. It encourages stakeholders to address systemic obstacles that hinder the participation and success of disabled individuals. Adopting this approach necessitates promoting inclusive environments, policies, and attitudes throughout the region.

Transforming communities necessitates collective action. By listening to disabled voices, engaging in meaningful dialogue, and implementing targeted changes, society can foster equitable opportunities for all. Businesses, in particular, have a significant responsibility to cultivate inclusive workplaces and services. While many organisations aspire to be more inclusive, concerns about making mistakes or incurring additional costs can impede progress. Genuine inclusivity requires a willingness to learn, adapt, and embrace change.

Best practices for fostering inclusion in business settings include:

• Offering accessible recruitment processes and workspaces;
• Providing workplace ‘reasonable’ adjustments for disabled employees;
• Training staff in disability awareness and inclusive practices;
• Creating welcoming environments that value disabled customers.

Championing inclusion is both ethically right and economically advantageous. In the West Midlands, the combined annual spending power of disabled people and their households is estimated to be £30.9 billion. Yet, three-quarters of disabled people report disengaging from businesses due to poor accessibility and customer service. Enhancing accessibility enables organisations to tap into this substantial market and improve overall customer satisfaction. Furthermore, employing disabled individuals yields broader economic benefits, including greater diversity of thought, increased employee loyalty, and enhanced workplace wellbeing.

Inclusive growth strategies, such as initiatives to make the West Midlands exemplary for disabled people, align with mayoral priorities of growth, jobs, journeys and homes for everyone. Ensuring that disabled individuals are included in this vision is essential for building a fairer, more prosperous society.

The contributions of disabled people extend beyond economic participation; many everyday innovations originated from efforts to support disabled individuals, including dropped curbs, electric toothbrushes, text messaging, speech-to-text technology, voice assistants, velcro, audiobooks, closed captions, and automatic doors. Such advancements exemplify how disability drives innovation and benefits everyone.

As Disability Pride Month is observed, it is vital to reflect on ways to foster a more inclusive West Midlands. Recommended actions include:

• Engaging with disabled individuals and organisations to understand their perspectives;
• Supporting policies and initiatives that advance accessibility and inclusion;
• Implementing inclusive changes within workplaces, communities, and organisations;
• Advocating for societal transformation focused on removing barriers as defined by the Social Model of Disability.
• Consider helping to raise the profile of Disability Pride within your organisation through events such as Birmingham Disability Festival, waving the flag, or educating your employees.

Achieving a region that truly supports disabled people requires ongoing collaboration, commitment, and innovation. Disability Pride represents both a celebration and a call to action, underscoring the achievements of disabled individuals and the need for continuous improvement in equality and inclusion. Through adopting the Social Model of Disability and embedding inclusive practices, communities can unlock social and economic potential, driving shared growth and prosperity.
By championing inclusivity, the West Midlands can become a leading example of support, empowerment, and equity for disabled people, benefiting the entire region.