July 2022 – AbleOTUK Celebrated Disability Pride Month by challenging the profession in its Allyship’s.
In 2021 Allyship was need as the word of the year by Dictionary.com
Allyship (ally-ship) noun ‘the status or role of a person who advocates and actively works for the inclusion of a marginalised or politicised group in all areas of society, not as a member of that group but in solidarity with its struggle and point of view and under its leadership.’ Dictionary.com
Being an ally every day is an important occupation in all aspects of life, but it’s really important in the workplace. Whether you’re an employee, team leader, manager, or director – you need to be an ally for those around you.
By better understanding the struggle and oppression that others face, you are learning and actively attempting to make a change. By supporting people through allyship, you can work towards creating a safer space.
July is #DisabilityPrideMonth is an international annual event, first celebrated in 1990. It started as a one day event but since 2015, the entire month has become an annual event worldwide to celebrate disabled people and the diversity of the community.
The @AbleOTUK team wanted to educate and get the profession to reflect on its actions challenging those within to #BeAnAbleOTUKAlly. Throughout July we used our social media platforms to promote useful changes you can make to become a better ally. We also had an article published in July’s OT news that reflected on our first year as an organisation.
July 3rd Use the accessibility feature on twitter to make your tweets more accessible. https://help.twitter.com/en/using-twitter/accessibility-features#BeAnAbleOTUKAlly #DisabilityPrideMonth
6th July Read & understand the equality act, #BeAnAbleOTUKAlly this #DisabilityPrideMonth in particular your duty to make reasonable adjustments to policies and processes in order to provide equitable services to clients, students and colleagues. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/section/20
9th July #BeAnAbleOTUKAlly and activity bring diversity to the table. Spend some time this #DisabilityPrideMonth thinking about what those with lived experiences of disability have to offer the profession. Then do something about it.
12th July Be mindful in your effects to #BeAnAbleOTUKAlly, Admit your mistakes – .This #DisabilityPrideMonth Understand that you will make mistakes but know that it is better to be an imperfect ally, than nothing at all. Say when you are wrong and what you have learnt.
15th July #BeAnAbleOTUKAlly this #DisabilityPrideMonth Ensure your using inclusive images in any content you are producing, Co-produce these images with those with lived experience. Did you know that the jigsaw puzzle symbol is no longer used? https://www.altogetherautism.org.nz/autism-no-puzzle-nothing-wrong-with-us/
17th July During #DisabilityPrideMonth #BeAnAbleOTUKAlly find out what training is available in your workplace on disability & accessibility. If there isn’t any, Ask for it, Repeatedly! How inclusive is your equity and diversity training?
20th July By now your hopefully aware its #DisabilityPrideMonth, But did you know @AbleOTUK holds a monthly support session on zoom for OT’s & students with lived experience of disability and/or a long term health condition, #BeAnAbleOTukAlly and give anyone you know that might benefit this information https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ableotuk-support-group-sessions-2022-tickets-242435630497?aff=ebdssbeac&keep_tld=1
23rd July Are your emails accessible? #BeAnAbleOTUKAlly this #DisabilityPrideMonth and Turn on these features. Read this blog and found out how https://abilitynet.org.uk/news-blogs/creating-accessible-emails
26th July This #DisabilityPrideMonth we @AbleOTUK have been asking you to #BeAnAbleOTUKAlly, why not join us for tonights #OTalk and help celebrate Disability Pride Month
29th July You know that feeling when you’re in a rush and there is nowhere else to park! I’m only going to be there for a few minutes! #BeAnAbleOTUKAlly and NEVER park on a dropped curb! And reminder others under the Traffic Management Act 2004 section 86 you are prohibited from parking at dropped footways. #DisabilityPrideMonth
July 4 It’s #Independence day in america. Language is important. #BeAnAbleOTUKAlly this #DisabilityPrideMonth. Reflect on what that word really means, is it a good word to use as a profession? Should the goal alway be independence? Is anyone really independent?
7th July Review the language you use this #DisabilityPrideMonth and #BeAnAbleOTUKAlly use these Guidelines for Writing About People With Disabilities – https://adata.org/factsheet/ADANN-writing
10th July Reflect on how inclusive you are in the workplace this #DisabilityPrideMonth and #BeAnAbleOTUKAlly Promote practice that benefits the needs of all your team members. Remember some may want to recharge differently to others, make this ok.
13th July When writing hashtags #BeAnAbleOTUKAlly by make sure you use #CamelCase (Capitalising each word!) It’s better for screen readers & those who are Neuro-diverse to process words/phrases.
16th July Happy Saturday all, have you got your July copy of @OTnews yet? It’s available online today. #BeAnAbleOTUKAlly this #DisabilityPrideMonth and read out article, pages 40-42. Get in touch with us and tell us what you think?
18th July We are over half way through #DisabilityPrideMonth the team here @AbleOTUK would love you to #BeAnAbleOTUKAlly and always ‘Speak up and Challenge ableism’ If you see or hear it, call it out.
21st July We hold monthly support sessions for any OT’s/students with lived experiences of Disability and/or long term health conditions on zoom, it’s really informal. Join us tonight! Book Here. #BeAnAbleOTukAlly #DisabilityPrideMonth https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ableotuk-support-group-sessions-2022-tickets-242435630497?aff=ebdssbeac&keep_tld=1
24th July Help us build a community of allies, #BeAnAbleOTUKAlly by letting us know how you are are have been celebrating/marking #DisabilityPrideMonth
27th July Happy Birthday to us, Last year on @7th July we launched @ableOTUK you can #BeAnAbleOTUKAlly this #DisabilityPrideMonth and watch the launch on our YouTube channel here, Please share it within your networks. https://youtu.be/H2NWCLc3tUU
30th July We are also most at the end of #DisabilityPrideMonth, Remember people with lived experiences need support and celebrating all year round, #BeAnAbleOTUKAlly and keep and eye on our website for further CPD and Support events, and share our resources with others.
1st July 2022 People with disabilities and long term health conditions are not your ‘inspiration’’ #BeAnAbleOTUKAlly
2nd July 2022 Confront your ableism, today have open and honest discussions about your own ableist views, so that we can take the first steps to challenging ableism within the #OccupationalTherapy profession. #BeAnAbleOTUKAlly
5th July Educate yourself. It can be tempting to simply ask people with disabilities about their experiences with inequality & injustice. This unfairly burdens them emotionally & cognitively . #BeAnAbleOTUKAlly this #DisabilityPrideMonth
8th July Own your privilege. #BeAnAbleOTUKAlly by recognising the advantages, opportunities, resources, and power you have. This can be difficult, but it’s necessary to begin to understand others’ perspectives. When understood, privilege is a resource that can be used for good.#DisabilityPrideMonth and #BeAnAbleOTAlly
11th July #BeAnAbleOTUKAlly and activity prompt, inclusive ways of working. Challenge the expectation to return to ‘normal’ ways of working. #DisabilityPrideMonth https://www.hrzone.com/perform/people/why-inclusive-working-not-hybrid-working-should-become-the-new-norm
14th July Remember not all disabilities are visible. #BeAnAbleOTUKAlly this #DisabilityPrideMonth Educate yourself and make a pledge to the Crohn’s or Colitis campaign. https://www.noteverydisabilityisvisible.org.uk/about-the-campaign
19th July Did you know that #DyslexicThinking is now a skill recognised by @LinkedIn & is also in @dictionarycom, thanks to the work of @MadeByDyslexia #BeAnAbleOTUKAlly this #DisabilityPrideMonth & promote Dyslexic Thinking as a skill, not a challenge to overcome. https://www.madebydyslexia.org
22th July The sunflower lanyard & card, became very popular during the pandemic, as a way to explain why a person with a disability might not wear a mask, however it now has a stigma attached to it, #BeAnAbleOTUKAlly and correct this misconception https://hiddendisabilitiesstore.com/about-hidden-disabilities-sunflower
25th July One of the ways you can #BeAnAbleOTUKAlly is to NEVER assume you know what an individual may need because of a label, diagnosis, or disability. Find out that individuals preferences, needs, opinions,wishes and aspirations #DisabilityPrideMonth
28th July #BeAnAbleOTUKAlly and remember ‘Reasonable Adjustments’ – it’s not unreasonable just because it’s not usually done that way! Often these adjustments make things more accessible for everyone. #DisabilityPrideMonth
31st July We have really enjoyed engaging with everyone during #DisabilityPrideMonth, We hope we have helped you reflect a little, but what have we missed? What are your thoughts on how to #BeAnAbleOTUKAlly
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