In our ongoing series recognizing disability pride month, we talk to social worker Ryan Padilla, SWAICL, about how an accident which led to his paraplegia motivated him towards a new purpose of helping others in therapy, thinking global while acting local. Even before the injury that brought seismic change to his life, Ryan had always nurtured a desire to heal people. He describes in his experience the darkness as well as the light and even a new perspective of gratitude. He loves the person he is today because of his disability, not in spite of it.

Introductory Quote by Judy Heumann, Disability Rights Activist

During a joint House-Senate hearing on discrimination on the basis of disability. September 27th 1988.

Why and How to Celebrate Disability Pride Month

https://thearc.org/blog/why-and-how-to-celebrate-disability-pride-month/#:~:text=Observed%20every%20July%2C%20Disability%20Pride,norms%20to%20live%20meaningful%20lives

Main show theme is “Strangers” by Midnight Prisms

Music and lyrics by Alicia Beck

Music and production by Max Foreman

Mastering by Little Castle Sound

Please follow and listen to Midnight Prisms on Spotify!

https://open.spotify.com/artist/3o5jiLSZMoSXNWL98UBxYI?si=sK-K7IoUSp-QfFKgUwVY7A

Logo art by Patrick Mitchell and Angelina Harvey (@graffitifucks on Instagram)

• (00:00:02) - The Right to Life for Disabled Americans
• (00:00:29) - Ryan on Disability Pride Month
• (00:08:09) - Patients talk about their work as therapists
• (00:11:55) - Bipolar patients talk about their disability
• (00:18:30) - Bipolar Disorder Is Not a Disability
• (00:19:46) - Paralympic Athlete on Mental Health
• (00:28:05) - What Am I Not Seeing In My Past?
• (00:29:10) - Bipolar patient on substance abuse recovery
• (00:34:22) - How To Deal With the State of the World
• (00:40:04) - How having a disability has helped me as a clinician