Happy Disability Pride Month! Disability is not a bad word, and ALL abilities are worthy of dignity and celebration!

Euphemisms such as “special needs” deny the truth that equitable access to education, healthcare, employment, and community living are human needs, not special needs.

Functioning labels, such as “high functioning” or “low functioning,” are based in ableism. Instead, focus on the strengths and support needs of the person with a disability.

For example, “They are four years old, love art and gymnastics, are non-speaking and learning to use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), and they are working on responding to yes or no and who, what, and where questions with the support of visuals.“

Centering lived experience of people with disabilities is always a priority. Here are some of my favorite advocates, therapists, and leaders with disabilities:

• Tiffany Hammond, autistic mother to autistic children, social activist, and author of the children's book A Day with No Words. Hear her wisdom on the Uniquely Human Podcast.

• Sonny Jane Wise, a neurodivergent and disabled public speaker, advocate, and author of the forthcoming book We're All Neurodiverse.

• Em, an autistic ADHDer, speech and language pathologist, mum to neurodivergent children, and illustrator at Neurowild.

• Adina Levy, neurodivergent speech therapist and educator, creator of Learn.Play.Chat, and host of the Exploring Neurodiversity Podcast.

Learn from the Heumann Perspective with the late great Judy Heumann, the mother of the disability rights movement, to hear what Disability Pride means to people with a variety of disabilities and their allies. The perspectives shared are enlightening and empowering, and they reinforce one of the mottos of disability justice "nothing about me without me."

Visit the Learn Play Grow resource page for neurodiversity-affirming books, podcasts, and links at www.learnplaygrowconsulting.com/resources

Join the Learn Play Grow newsletter to receive your FREE Power of Play Guide, and follow Learn Play Grow on Facebook and Instagram and YouTube.

Rebecca A. Weiner, M.Ed. Is a neurodiversity affirming educator and creator of Learn Play Grow. She helps young children with diverse abilities and their families, teachers, and schools experience success on their own terms through play-based learning, parent and teacher coaching, consulting in schools, and and neurodiversity-affirming inclusion support in early childhood programs. Connect with Rebecca at www.learnplaygrowconsulting.com