The History of Disability Pride and what it means to you.

The History of Disability Pride and what it means to you.

INTO... DISABILITY HISTORY AND INCLUSIVE DESIGN

It’s been 32 years since Scholar Roger Coleman officially presented the phrase “Inclusive Design” in his presentation titled The Case for Inclusive Design at the International Ergonomics Association. However, a lot of the early work in accessible design was focused on the aging population.

A year later—in 1995—following heavy campaigning by grassroots disability rights groups, the UK passed the Disability Discrimination Act, forcing public spaces, transport, and service providers to remove physical barriers, altering the landscape of British architecture and commercial design forever.

30 years on and we have closed captions, door handle levers (replacing knobs), and audible signals on pedestrian crossings that were co-designed with and for disabled people.

It’s not a coincidence that disabled design is taking centre stage. Design created to help those with disabilities is no longer niche, it’s everywhere, and it benefits everyone.



INTO...WHAT'S TRENDING

Another hot topic this Disability Pride is fashion and function. It’s been a long debated subject and something at Intotum we’re particularly passionate about. Function doesn’t have to replace style. An accessible item that works with your body but looks a little… dry, isn’t that accessible at all—remember what we said earlier about what you wear affecting your mentality? It’s no good to don a functional garment only to end up feeling sad in it.

Research from the disability charity Leonard Cheshire found that mainstream fashion in the UK still fails to meet the needs of three quarters of disabled people. That’s a huge gap.

And it’s not just statistical either, it shows up in attitudes towards disabled people. Our founder was once told "disabled people don't need fashion" as if people with disabilities should just wear what they're given with the limited options available to them. This is an incredibly prejudiced view. But the fact you're here, reading this, and supporting our mission is what helps shift that narrative.

We know disabled people need fashion because we listen to you telling us that. And we'll keep making it, until three quarters becomes zero.

 

 

INTO...SPOTLIGHTING YOU

Steph, a photographer, model, and proud disabled person from Cheshire, talks to Intotum about disability pride, fashion, and changing the industry.

What does disability pride mean to you?
That we’re seen, represented, and cared for. I was the photographer the first year Chester Pride put the Disability Pride parade on and I’ve watched it grow and grow. I’ve done the catwalk as a model, and photographer. I’ve been disabled all my life but I really found and embraced disability pride since Chester announced its parade.

What role do you think fashion plays in helping you connect deeper to your disability?
I’ve been labelled the most fashionable member of my choir—and there’s 70 of us! But I’ve not always been comfortable in my body. There was a time when I lost the love of fashion, I put on weight, chucking on oversized clothes. I’m far more confident and proud of my body ever since I had my colostomy in 2023, styling and wearing things I’ve never worn before. I love a waistcoat, a suit, and I love dressing up my stoma bag. Even with a disability you can style things that get noticed, and I love to be noticed!
It was incredible when I realised that clothing can be adapted to my wheelchair. The Backless Wheelchair Trench Coat from Intotum was such a game-changer—I’m no longer sat on the back of a coat, and it’s not yanking or caught in my wheels. That coat really opened my eyes to how amazing adaptive clothing really is.

What can brands do to better represent disabled people, not just for one month a year, but always?
No brand should “show off” disabled representation, it should just be the norm. I think everyone—disabled or not—should be represented equally. I’d like to see fashion brands do more with mannequins to show how the clothes look on different bodies.
I was once shut down by a company that didn’t consider what I might be able to do—they just assumed I couldn't. Disabled people need to be really listened to, not just because it's pride month, but always.

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