Disability is not an Insult
Happy Disability Pride Month! Did you know July is Disability Pride Month? If we’re being honest, we didn’t either until one of our disabled teachers brought it to our attention. That’s why #awareness and surrounding yourself with a diverse crew are so important!
Yoga for All Humans (YFAH) is an Accessible Yoga Ambassador for Accessible Yoga Association, and we’d like to increase our contribution to their mission with your help this month! We proudly align with their mission and vision.
Accessible Yoga Association’s Mission & Vision:
Mission: “Accessible Yoga believes that all people—regardless of ability or background—deserve equal access to yoga. Through education and advocacy, we share the teachings and benefits of yoga with those who have been marginalized.”
Vision: “We envision a world where everyone has access to the yoga teachings that offer individual empowerment and spiritual awakening. We identify and remove barriers to access, build strong networks, and advocate for an accessible, equitable, and dynamic yoga culture.”
By coming to class this month, you’ll be supporting yourself AND Accessible Yoga Association. YFAH is donating $1/person/class for every class you attend, and many of our teachers are matching that donation.
Teacher Spotlight: Hailey Kinter, Accessible Yoga Teacher
Hailey Kinter is one of our accessible yoga teachers at YFAH. In honor of Disability Pride Month (and to show how proud we are to have Hailey on staff at YFAH), we wanted to highlight Hailey this month! Her disability representation in an ableist space is so needed, and we’re so honored that you chose to teach with us, Hailey!
Hailey’s thoughts on Disability Pride:
“I’ve been a ‘hot mess express’ in and out of hospitals for more than half my life. I’ve had countless surgeries, hospital admissions, code blues, and ICU stays. I’ve been on life support for the last four years.
For years, I was made to feel less than, too much, and weak for using a mobility aid and having tubes dangling from my body. I longed to feel… to be normal. Being disabled, you are made to feel shameful, to hide your truth for other’s comfort. Support isn’t given out - I had to fight in court for seven years to receive disability benefits. Even with benefits, I’d be homeless if it wasn’t for my family.
Society would have us believe that vulnerability is a weakness; in reality, being vulnerable requires strength. It takes courage to ask for and accept help. To leave the house knowing people will stare.
To me, Disability Pride means recognizing all of the battles I’ve faced and celebrating my fighting spirit. I wear my scars and tubes like trophies. Everything I’ve lost made me appreciate people and all the little things so much more.
I feel pride not just for myself, but also for all my badass disabled family and friends who inspire. I think of legends like Judy Heumann who were disabled before me and fought for the rights I have today. I have pride for those who have died like Claire Wineland, for teaching me how to fall in love with my disabled life.
Nevertheless, there is still a lot of work to do. The world is not accessible, and disabled people do not have equal rights. No longer do I yearn to feel normal, I long for a future where disabled people are respected and appreciated.”
Is Disability a bad word, Hailey?
“I wish everyone knew that disabled is not a bad word. It’s being reclaimed and spelt with a capital ‘D’ to represent the pride in the community. I can’t speak for all disabled people, but I feel validated and seen with [the word Disabled].
Handicapped is ‘eww’ (cue an eww from Alexis Rose, please!), and ‘differently abled’ essentially says, ‘I don’t see/respect your struggle.’ Special needs is the worst one in my book. I was in Special Ed in high school, and I was bullied horribly and treated like an alien. Cripple is also being reclaimed, but it’s kind of like the ‘N word’ in the sense that it’s ok for disabled people to call each other [crippled], but not for an able-bodied person to use the term.
Lastly, ‘person with a disability’ is just annoyingly wordy and still implies a level of discomfort and separation.”