DiversityNursing Blog

As Nurses, we witness the incredible resilience and unique journeys of individuals every single day. July marks an important occasion: Disability Pride Month.

Disability Pride isn't about denying the challenges that can come with living with a disability. Instead, it's about embracing disability as a natural and valuable aspect of human diversity. It's about dismantling stigma, fighting for accessibility, and recognizing the immense contributions of disabled individuals to society.

The History: A Look Back

Did you know that Disability Pride Month is celebrated in July to commemorate a monumental civil rights victory? The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law on July 26, 1990. This landmark legislation prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, from employment to transportation and public accommodations. The first official Disability Pride Month celebration occurred in July 2015, marking the ADA's 25th anniversary.

Beyond legislation, the disability rights movement has a rich history of advocacy. Events like the Capital Crawl in 1990, where disabled activists crawled up the steps of the U.S. Capitol, dramatically illustrated the inaccessibility faced by many and spurred the passage of the ADA. These acts of courage laid the groundwork for the pride we celebrate today.

More Than Just a Month: Key Facts About Disability

• Disability is diverse: It encompasses a vast spectrum of conditions, both visible and invisible, including physical disabilities, neurodiversity, mental health conditions, chronic illnesses, and sensory impairments.

• A global community: According to the World Health Organization, approximately 16% of the world's population, or an estimated 1.3 billion people, live with a disability, making it the largest minority group globally. In the U.S., over 61 million adults live with a disability (CDC).

• The Disability Pride Flag: Designed by Ann Magill, the current flag features a charcoal gray background representing mourning for victims of ableist violence and abuse. The diagonal band signifies cutting through barriers, and the five colors represent different types of disabilities: Red (physical), Gold (neurodiversity), White (invisible and undiagnosed), Blue (emotional and psychiatric), and Green (sensory).

• Combating Ableism: Disability Pride actively challenges ableism – the discrimination and social prejudice against people with disabilities based on the belief that typical abilities are superior. It encourages us to shift from a "medical model" that views disability as something to be "fixed" to a "social model" that recognizes societal barriers as the disabling factor.

Voices of Experience 

Patient Voices:

• "My disability isn't a limitation; it's a different way of experiencing the world. It has given me unique strengths and a perspective I wouldn't trade." – Maria, living with a spinal cord injury

• "For so long, I felt like I had to hide my invisible illness. Disability Pride Month reminds me that my experiences are valid and that I deserve to be seen and celebrated for who I am, chronic pain and all." – Damian, living with fibromyalgia

• "When people focus on my wheelchair, they miss me. This month is about showing the world that disabled lives are full, vibrant, and deserve respect." – Sarah, a proud advocate and artist

Nurse Reflections:

• "As a Nurse, Disability Pride Month is a powerful reminder to always listen, to advocate for accessibility in our healthcare systems, and to see the person, not just the diagnosis. Every patient teaches me something new about resilience and adaptation." – Emily, RN

• "It's about shifting our mindset. We're here to empower, to support independence, and to make sure our patients receive equitable and dignified care. Celebrating Disability Pride is an extension of that commitment." – Michael, BSN

• "Disability isn't a tragedy; it's a characteristic. This month challenges us to examine our own biases and focus on creating truly inclusive environments for both our patients and our colleagues." – Jessi, Charge Nurse

How Can We All Celebrate?

Beyond July, the spirit of Disability Pride should inform our actions every day:

• Educate yourself: Learn about disability history, culture, and current issues.

• Challenge ableism: Be mindful of language, stereotypes, and unconscious biases.

• Advocate for accessibility: Support initiatives that promote universal design and inclusion in all areas of life.

• Amplify disabled voices: Listen to and uplift the experiences of people with disabilities.

• Celebrate diversity: Recognize and value the unique perspectives and contributions that disabled individuals bring to our communities.

Disability Pride Month is a call to action, a celebration of identity, and a profound reminder that true strength lies in embracing all forms of human diversity. Let's stand together, Nurses and allies, to create a world where every person, regardless of ability, is seen, valued, and empowered to thrive.

Applying for a new job can be overwhelming and stressful. For candidates with disabilities, the hiring process can be a disheartening experience.  

According to the CDC, one in four adults in the U.S. has a disability; the unemployment rate for that community is double that of non-disabled workers.

Andrea Dalzell can relate to those who face unjust barriers when searching for employment. She is a disability advocate and New York State's first wheelchair-bound Registered Nurse. 

Dalzell fights for those like her, qualified candidates who face discrimination and obstacles when applying for jobs.

Andrea was diagnosed with transverse myelitis when she was 5 years old and using a wheelchair full-time by the age of 12.

Her experiences with Nurses inspired her to become one. She received her Nursing degree from the City University of New York, College of Staten Island.

Even with her Nursing degree it was difficult to find work.

"I once went through 76 clinical Nursing interviews. I was rejected from them all until COVID demanded my help during the peak in NYC. The rejection from ever having a bedside Nursing position was flipped on its head as my wheelchair was seen for what it is: a mobility device", said Dalzell in an American Nurses Association interview. 

Dalzell uses past negative experiences and turns them into a positive, as she can relate to patients who struggle with disabilities, and give them hope. She encourages them to persevere in the face of adversity. 

However, she finds it frustrating that in the field of caring, many still face discrimination.

According to Employee Benefit News, Dalzell said, "We're forgetting that [enabling] technology has advanced so much, and should allow our healing touch and compassion to come into the profession and give hope in a way that is normally not seen. And yet when [people with disabilities] are saying they want to be Nurses or be on a healthcare team, we're saying well, you have a disability — you're not good enough."

Employers need to do more than just talk about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), they need to actually be about it. 

"You cannot tell people you are an equal opportunity employer, tell them to come on in through the door," Andrea says, "but then be unprepared and your doors are not even big enough to accept someone."

"Disability is the fastest- and largest-growing minority in the world. Without disability inclusion, you could very well be limiting opportunities for your future selves," says Dalzell. 

Andrea is a Pioneer and an inspiration to many. In recognition of her achievements, she's earned many spotlights, such as New Mobility’s Person of the Year (2021). She was also one of the inaugural recipients of the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation Visionary Prize of $1 million.

Dalzell is still figuring out how she will use the money, but has already started a 501c3 nonprofit foundation called The Seated Position to create awareness around those with disabilities in education and the workforce.

According to New Mobility, Andrea attributes her tenacity to her parents, first-generation immigrants from Guyana, who encouraged hard work and perseverance. “I told Andrea, don’t let anyone ever tell you there is something you can’t do,” says her mother, Sharon Dalzell. “Just look at them straight in the face and say, ‘Watch me.’ As long as you do it in the right way, you’ll reap the benefits in the years to come.”

Andrea knows it’s important for people to see someone like her — a black, disabled woman — out in the world, making a life for herself and changing the lives of others. 

You can follow Dalzell on Instagram @theseatedNurse where she posts her everyday life along with great motivational content. Also check out her website theseatednurse.com to learn more! 

To answer this question, we did some research and discovered the answer is Yes, a deaf person can have a career in Nursing. In this article, we focus on 3 Nurses who are making it happen.

For Dionne Jaques, becoming a Nurse was a goal of hers for many years. She knew it would be difficult to achieve this goal because she is deaf. Dionne never gave up. She fulfilled her goal and is a Registered Nurse in a health care facility in Southern Utah. During her valedictorian speech at Nightingale College graduation, she said "Don't let your limitations slow you down".

There are many people like Dionne whose passion is Nursing, like Annie Resetar. Annie has moderate to severe hearing loss. She graduated from Walsh University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She then interned at Akron Children’s Hospital and is currently working as an aide in a Nursing home.

Annie said, "I think my hearing disability sets me apart and makes me a better Nurse. It helps build trust with my patients. It is a testament that there are things wrong with all of us, but that should not get in the way of our lives and dreams. Rather, we simply must adapt and embrace these differences because they make us stronger."

Lauren Searls was born deaf and both of her parents are deaf. Her goal is to be a Family Nurse Practitioner. She received her RN degree from Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing and has applied for an MS in Nursing there.

According to the Rochester Institute of Technology, Lauren has relied on interpreters in the classroom and while visiting patients.

She said, "I go into the patients’ rooms with confidence, introduce myself, tell the patients that I am deaf and will rely on interpreters as needed. I have been able to make it work effectively. Although I do well in one-on-one situations and small group settings, I am not hearing and only 30 percent of the English language is lip readable and there is no guarantee that everyone speaks clearly or is easy to understand. Working with an interpreter is the only way I’ll be able to ensure I have access to what is going on around me.”

Nurses who are hard of hearing are legally entitled to use accommodations like ASL (American Sign Language) interpreters and tools such as amplified stethoscopes to assist them. To learn more about resources and accommodations, the Association of Medical Professionals with Hearing Loss (AMPHL) and the Society of Health Care Professionals With Disabilities advocates for deaf and hard-of-hearing professionals in the medical field.