Pride

It’s been a minute. Let me catch you up.

Bowie Art gifted by (clockwise) Kendall Parker, Sonné Michiels Ghanem, Nina Thomas, Ripley Ramos, Krystle Ramos.

I took a hiatus from blogging in 2018 to devote all of my time and resources towards Fashion is for Every Body. That organization was created to promote body-positivity and self-esteem in adults of all ages, races, sizes, physical abilities, gender identities and sexual orientations while seeking inclusion within the fashion industry. As we carried out our interviews, photoshoots, and runway show we noticed an unintended consequence which became our secondary mission. Our participants were gaining a deeper understanding of each other and of life experiences that were often very different from their own. We were offering an opportunity to foster friendship between these people. We created a community of connection, and it’s only through connection that caring and empathy can occur.

July is Disability Pride Month. People with disabilities are the largest and most diverse minority within the population, representing all abilities, ages, races, ethnicities, religions and socio-economic backgrounds. Disability Pride focuses on the social model of disability and is the idea that people with disabilities should be proud of their disabled identity. Disability identity refers to possessing a positive sense of self and feelings of connection to, or solidarity with, the disability community.

Not gonna lie; I had to look all of that up. I have never been immersed in the disability community so I don’t know the milestones or specific descriptive language. Some of that is generational. When I was born it was common practice to institutionalize people with disabilities, especially young children, for life. Some of it is circumstantial. I have always lived a mainstreamed life. With the exception of after-school physical therapy until age 12 I’ve had limited experiences with segregated programs for people with disabilities. What I do know is that we, the disabled, deserve to be valued and treated as equals - and we are not. What I have done and will continue to do is participate in and create experiences that foster understanding and support of people with disabilities by the able-bodied population. There is absolutely no hope for our outcry for equality without the voices of the able-bodied shouting in unison with us.

Mask: Nina Covington. Dress: ASOS. Shoes: DSW. Jewelry: Elizabeth Cooke.

COVID-19 has forced us to put most of our projects and events on hold. 2020 is turning into the year of the reset. For better or worse, it’s forcing us to examine who we are and how we live our lives on a daily basis.

I’m a very different person than the one that started this blog in 2012. Spashionista was created because I couldn’t find anyone like me writing about fashion. I felt it was important to downplay my disability because I didn’t want to be conveniently defined or dismissed as a woman in a wheelchair. It wasn’t a shame-based decision by any means, and my matter-of-fact narrative led to questions and comments from readers, brands and designers that resulted in awareness of disability issues,

Now, there are dozens of disabled fashion bloggers and influencers out there - and that’s tremendously important and encouraging! Most of them are very open and honest about their disability and personal journey towards positive perception. Moving forward, it’s time for me to follow their lead. In the words of my spirit guide, Davie Bowie, “I don’t know where I’m going from here but I promise it won’t be boring”.

Happy Jack and Penny Lane love my new office.