what it is, history and when it was born in Italy

Compared to Pridethe concept of Disability Pride (originally known as Handy Pride) emerged recently, but the social and cultural roots lie in the same principles. In this case we have the pride of people with disabilitieswhose parade aims to raise awareness in society on issues such as social inclusion and the rights of disabled people.

It is an expression of pride that aims to celebrate the individual identity of people with disabilities, but also a powerful political, social and cultural statement against discrimination, stigma and social exclusion.

When was Disability Pride born in the world and in Italy?

The first historic Disabilty Pride in the world was held in 1990 a Boston (MA, United States of America), while the first parade in New York was in 1995. The movement was born in a particularly silent way, but over time it has established itself within society, so much so that for example the Disability Pride Parade Planning (DP3), a committee born from a group of volunteers from various organizations who plan the celebration every year.

1990 was a very important year for people with disabilities in the United States of America, as then President George Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the main US regulatory text on disability, with the aim of combating discrimination against disabled people. Furthermore, it introduced the obligation for employers to adopt specific measures for employees with disabilities and issued specific requirements for respecting accessibility in public places.

From these movements other parallel initiatives were also born. For example the Disability Pride Month, which New York Mayor Bill De Blasio set for July in 2015. Then he was born too Disability Pride Weekwhich for example in 2018 in New Zealand was organized from 26 November to 3 December, coinciding with the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

In Italy, however, the first Disability Pride was organized between July and August 2015 by Carmelo Comisi, in various municipalities of Ragusa. Initially the event was called Handy Pridewhose name will change to its current one a year later on the occasion of the organization of the event in Palermo – a significant date as there was also the twinning with New York.

In the following years the social initiative will also move to large cities, arriving in Rome and Naples. During the pandemic, precisely in 2020, Pride also became a television broadcast broadcast on RaiPlay. The Disability Pride Network (DPN) was then formed around Comisi’s actions, an informal network made up of different entities with the aim of raising awareness of the need for a more inclusive world.

What are the principles of Disability Pride in Italy?

The Disability Pride Network aims to spread 10 fundamental points through its initiatives:

• 1 – Support and promote the self-determination of people with disabilities
• 2 – Respect and promote the value of differences between individuals
• 3 – Support and encourage scientific research and technological innovation
• 4 – Educate in a culture that does not contemplate discrimination
• 5 – Support and promote equal opportunities
• 6 – Affirm the value of the active contribution of people with disabilities
• 7 – Encourage the developmental path and abilities of children with disabilities
• 8 – Promote languages ​​and behaviors capable of overcoming stereotypes and prejudices relating to people with disabilities
• 9 – Claim, support and promote universal accessibility
• 10 – Making humanity’s material and immaterial heritage truly usable

Read also: Ableism: what it is, what it means and how it manifests itself