July is Disability Pride Month and for WDEN it also marks our 12-month long journey towards our vision – an equitable business ecosystem where people with disabilities (PwD) are empowered to succeed.
An equitable business ecosystem drives economic independence for PwD’s. Economic independence is about expanding the capability of PwD to make their own genuine choices about their lives through full and equal participation in all spheres of life.
Disability Pride Month is a celebration of disability. It celebrates people with disability, their identity and their significant contribution to society. We are proud of our WDEN entrepreneurs Anja Christoffersen and Tiffani Deguara and the disability-owned businesses they have launched – Against the Grain Coffee and Shh!t Happens.
Disabled people make up over 20% of the population and Disability Pride Month seeks to remove stigma and ableism and promote diversity and inclusion. Here is how you can get involved this July:
1. Educate yourself on disability. For example the Disability Pride Month has its own flag with meaning. The five-flag colours represent:
- Green – Invisible and undiagnosed disabilities
- Blue – Mental illness
- White – Sensory disabilities
- Yellow – Neurodiversity and development disabilities
- Red – Physical disabilities
2. Engage in conversations about disability. Remove the stigma and your own prejudice.
3. Ensure diversity in your workforce including those from the disability community
4. Make the choice – purchase from a disability owned and led business.