Recognising the challenges of living with a disability.

Disability pride month has been celebrated in the UK, each July since 2017. It is thought that 16 million people in the UK have a disability. Here we look at the challenges faced with different disabilities, as represented in the disability pride flag.

Red: Physical Disability

Physical disabilities are those that have a “limitation on a person’s physical functioning, mobility, dexterity or stamina.” Someone can be born with a physical disability whilst others acquire a physical disability later in life, through injury, illness or infection etc.

Physical disabilities include cerebral palsy, spinal cord injury, arthritis,  MS and epilepsy.

Gold: Neurodiversity

Neurodiversity refers to how a person’s brain processes information in different ways. People who are diagnosed as neurodivergent can have one or more of various conditions, including ADHD, Autism, Aspergers and Sensory processing differences. As many as 1 in 7 people are thought to have some form of neurodiversity.

White: Non-Visible and Undiagnosed Disabilities

Some people are affected by an illness or condition that is not obviously apparent to those around them whilst others are awaiting an official diagnosis. Of those that have a disability, a huge 80% of those are non-visible.

Non-visible disabilities include diabetes, endometriosis,  incontinence and chronic fatigue.

Blue: Emotional and Psychiatric Disabilities

This refers to a range of mental disorders including anxiety, depression, OCD, eating disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder. Each year, as many as 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem.

Green: Sensory Disability

This refers to anyone who has an impairment with one of their senses. Examples can include those with a sight impairment, loss of hearing, speech impediment or spatial awareness issues due to conditions such as dyspraxia

What challenges do those with a disability face?

People with disabilities face a variety of challenges in their daily lives, from physical challenges, stigmatization, negative attitudes and communication. Common challenges faced include:

• Accessing buildings with steps where no ramp or lift is provided
• Stereotypes and negative attitudes, being ignored or treated with pity
• Communication material not being provided in an accessible way, i.e. no large print or braille format provided for those with visual impairment  
• Education and employment challenges; 52.6% employment rate for people with a disability, compared to 82.5% for those without
• Lack of understanding and empathy towards those with an invisible illness

Whilst challenges exist, campaigns such as Disability Pride Month look to raise awareness and promote inclusivity. If you suffer from a disability, there are resources available to help overcome the challenges you face:

• https://www.scope.org.uk/
• https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/
• https://www.disabilitycando.org.uk/
• https://www.charitychoice.co.uk/charities/disabled
• https://www.sense.org.uk/

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