Guest: My parents raised me to be independent, which has stayed with me throughout my life.
I was born two years after the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed into law. I have seen automatic doors in more buildings growing up, and I rarely see an entrance without a ramp.
However, adjustments still need to be made, such as wheelchair stalls in bathrooms that need more space, and some buildings have ramps that are not near the entrance.
One in six Oklahomans has a disability, and I am one of them. I have cerebral palsy and use a manual wheelchair to get around. I am also hard of hearing and have hearing aids. I graduated from Oklahoma Christian University with a Bachelor of Science in journalism.
I now work for the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services, and I can drive. But disabled parking everywhere is limited, and I find myself getting to places early so I can park before it gets crowded. The worst part about finding a spot is when someone parks in the other disabled area next to my car, and they are in the lines, which is the space I need to put my ramp down and get out with enough room for my chair.
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However, not everything has limitations. I went to Camp Make Promises Happen in Guthrie when I was a child, and Camp Barnabas in Missouri where people with disabilities could do fun activities without limits.
My parents raised me to be independent, which has stayed with me throughout my life. I know there are certain activities I will not be able to do, but there are also things I know I can do. My mom discovered there was a way for me to learn how to drive when I was 16, however, I did not begin that journey until 2016. A couple of months after I graduated from college, I went to the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services’ Vocational Rehabilitation office in Edmond so I could begin the process of learning how to drive. My vocational rehabilitation counselor helped me by finding a driving instructor, who taught me to drive a modified van.
Several months after I got my driver’s license, I received my modifications paid for by DRS to the car I purchased to suit my needs. Once I became comfortable driving in my own vehicle, I began my job search. A few years later, I was hired to work with DRS, where I am on the communications team.
A big part of why I enjoy my job is because I get to help other people with disabilities. I write media releases about former clients, keep track of the agency’s social media pages and update the Disability Resource Guide, along with other responsibilities.
One of my favorite things that I do for social media is “Fiction Friday,” where I post about books that feature a character with a disability. I did not have this representation while I was growing up, so it brings me joy to see it in the world and let others know what is out there. Disability representation truly does matter.
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DRS marked its 30-year anniversary on July 1, becoming its own agency in 1993 and charged with empowering Oklahomans with disabilities to pursue independent lives. President George H.W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act into law on July 26, 1990. That led to July becoming Disability Pride Month.
The ADA will reach its 33-year landmark on July 26, and that day will be a great day for all Americans to celebrate Disability Pride Month and raise awareness about Oklahomans with disabilities and the need to continue improving accessibility for all.
Rachel McLemore is a communications officer for the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: July is Disability Pride Month. One in six Oklahomans has a disability
