Did you know that there are not one but two pride months? While June celebrates people across different sexual orientations and gender identities, July celebrates another kind of diversity: those among the disabled community.

In 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed and, in 2015, the first official Disability Pride Month celebrations were held to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the landmark decision.

Disabilities are not just the ones we can see, however. Many people have disabilities that are “invisible”. An example of this is “high masking” autism, which is part of my disability.

Through masking, we “mask” our symptoms to better “fit in” with our neurotypical peers, especially in public places like work or schul. Examples can include rehearsing conversations in our head, mimicking others’ body language or posture, and maintaining eye contact no matter how uncomfortable it makes us.

There are times when it is necessary to mask for safety. However, heavily masking all the time does have its drawbacks. We become “less” of ourselves to blend in with polite society. Through hiding an essential part of ourselves away, it often leads to burnout or overstimulation, and in some cases depression or anxiety.

“High masking autism” is formerly known as “highly functioning autism”. However, as many in the disability community including myself find this to be ableist language, “high masking” is preferred. And, as mentioned above, it can be a hindrance to “functioning” daily.

Makom is the first and only place I’ve worked where I can unmask myself freely. Many of my colleagues are very aware of my disability and are very accommodating. They have likely seen me flapping my arms to stim when I am excited or fiddling with my fidget cube when I need to focus, and no one bats an eye.

I would venture to say that my I/DD brothers and sisters that we support would agree with me that they are free to unmask themselves when they come here to Makom. Sometimes I will chat with the MOST participants, and I’ve had the pleasure to see them grow over the past year I’ve worked here. I’m proud of how far they’ve come, and they should be proud of themselves as well.

If you are reading this and are disabled, try not to mask around those you trust. Don’t hide yourself away. And be who you are, for your pride.