July is Disability Pride Month, and ACLP celebrates, accepts, and honors each person's uniqueness and sees it as an integral part of human diversity. This is a time to recognize the unique perspectives and contributions of people with disabilities and to promote a society that embraces inclusion in all its forms and works towards an equitable future for disabled individuals.
Disability Pride Month also holds space to recognize that disability is a natural part of the human experience, break down stereotypes, and promote a more inclusive society where every individual is valued and respected. It highlights the need for equal rights and social change to address barriers disabled individuals face, such as discrimination, lack of accessibility, and stigma.
Below are ACLP resources to help you mark Disability Pride Month and improve your competency in supporting patients and families with disabilities.
Disability Resources from ACLP:
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ACLP Bulletin: Summer 2023
Supporting Autistic Child Life Students
Mary Ann Gill, MEd, CCLS
Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt
"In exploring ways to meet the needs of autistic or otherwise neurodivergent child life students, ongoing research will certainly be helpful in building more empirical support for the above suggestions. However, for student supervisors and educators, the time to act is now."
ACLP Bulletin: Winter 2022
Increasing Autonomy in Health Care Decision Making for Children and Adolescents with Developmental Disabilities
Sarah Foster, B.S., Tufts University, Boston, MA
Graduate Student: Eliot-Pearson Department of Child Study and Human Development
"I hope the experiences I share inspire other professionals working with children and adolescents with developmental disabilities to explore their approaches to support decision-making autonomy as well."
ACLP Bulletin: Summer 2022
Increasing Access for Students with Different Abilities in Entry to the Child Life Profession
Rachel Rock, Child Life Intern
Mayo Clinic Children’s Center
"A move from a biomedical model to the social model of disability in academic and clinical programs could be a piece of the solution at greater representation. A social model of disability examines, what is not working in the environment for this individual to be successful. Rather than, what is not working with this individual?"
ACLP Bulletin: Fall 2020
Specialized Resources: Working with Nonverbal Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Michelle Badejo, CCLS
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
ACLP Members earn 1.0 for each Journal of Child Life research article.
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