For me the month of July has been my “Month of Reading”, hence why you may have noticed my absence in the last few weeks. — Sorry about that, I am human and I am imperfect.

I can only pour from an overflowing cup; you have to you put on your own oxygen mask before assisting others, right?

During this time of learning, I have received a lot of DM’s and comments on Instagram about how I am able to travel with my disability. And being that July was Disability Pride month, It’s only fitting to start my first post of August sharing more about my disability, and how I navigate the world around me.

We can consider August, Abena’s Disability Pride Month. Which is fitting since I always seem to forget and miss it every year. 

Besides, why should I have to wait for a particular month of the year, to celebrate myself and my history. That’s like telling Black/African communities that they can only celebrate their cultures during the month on February. And I just KNOW we aint out here doing that in 2025. 

That, I refuse to accept. 

So, 

With that being said, I have decided to dedicate my site for  the month of August to be all about my disability and traveling. 

One thing I don’t talk about, as much as I should, is actually my disability. 

If you have read my other posts, especially those around my childhood and formative years, we will see a LARGE theme of Ableism. (Ableism:noun: The discrimination of and social prejudice against people with disabilities) 

I grew up in a community that didn’t talk about my disability. I personally often referred to it as a “mark” against me.  And when I say we didn’t talk about it, I mean I also wasn’t asked about it, not given a safe space to even ask for myself. And if it was brought up, it was usually in a derogatory way. This type of environment doesn’t encourage sharing, and because I didn’t share, I didn’t learn how to share. 

This is something I am actively working on. 

I’ve lived with a disability for over 30 years — It’s all I know. But I wasn’t born with it either. I walk such a fine unique rope that majority of it was just about walking to survive. 

I survived, thankfully. 

And with that survival came wisdom and other skills, that allow me TO be able to travel as much as I do, and hopefully even more so next year. 

And this is why I want to use my time in August to highlight a lot of what I have learned about the world, and people, when it comes to people with disabilities. Both culturally, environmentally, and logistically. 

Traveling isn’t a privilege. Its a right that we have been doing long before the rise of capitalism, one that has been repacked to us as “Luxury” and “Extensive”. All of these things it doesn’t have to be.

I am still very much the same girl who didn’t get her first passport until 2020. 

That same girl who flew to Ghana in 2021, and whose life was subsequently changed forever. 

And that same girl who moved 10 months later. 

And yes, I did all of this with a disability. 

I don’t care what anyone says, 

Disability doesn’t mean inability or incapable — at least not in the way the society frames it.

Everyone, at some point in this life, will have a disability. 

Regardless if its due to aging, trauma, or even mental health reasons. Its coming, its apart of life. 

Something as small as a broken wrist, is a disability.

I had an old boss, who walked with a limp. They told me they torn their achilles playing football, and how it never fully repaired. And now has a chronic issue due to it, which impacts their leg and walking. — Yea, you have a disability.

Do you read with glasses, or can’t live without your contacts?  — Oh so you have an eye, disability. 

Dyslexic or have a speech impediment? — yea, disability too.

Memory issues or a fall risk? — its a disability boo. 

Disability isn’t linear, its a spiral, and at the center of it is us. We are all the same, people just need different types of support for their accommodations.

Having a disability isn’t some curse, or mark against someone. Its something that will occur to all of us in life and doesn’t make you any less human. And often the world forgets this. And its something I have the *privilege* of experiencing on the daily. 

With having a lower limb disability, I can go from obviously disabled, to “why are you in the disabled line” very quick. The way y’all be treating people isn’t right, I have 30+ years of experiencing it first hand. 

This is why equality and equity isn’t the same, and why its important to know the difference. Hard side eye at you Disneyland Paris. 

And that’s why I’m making the month of August about my disability, and how I have navigated the world around me. And hopefully share something things that can help you regardless if you have a disability now, or will develop yours as time goes on.

The funny thing about my actual life story, its that its relatable AF. At some point in my life, I become a mirror for someone else. Our struggles always seem to align in some way. So if you don’t think see yourself in my disability posts, keep reading them.. you’ll find either future self, or maybe someone you already know. 

And even in then. 

In the word of my sister Chanel, “I have lived many lives”. 

And one of these lives will relate to you. 

I say this because you’ve been telling me this for the last 30 years, and never let me forget it. 

I look forward to sharing more about my disability and life with you. 

Happy Abena’s Disability Pride Month