Celebrating Disability Pride Month
At M&T Bank, putting people first is essential to everything we do. We recognize Disability Pride Month is a time when we celebrate individuals embracing their disabilities as an integral part of who they are.
Disability does not mean inability
While Disability Pride Month inspires us to celebrate people with disabilities, unfortunately they are often stereotyped, labeled, and discriminated against because of the perception of what they cannot do.
Let’s look closer at some beliefs of people with disabilities:
Understanding leads to valuing
Often times, people mean well, but just don’t know how to interact. To treat a person with disabilities respectfully, put the person before the disability.
Things to consider:
Use:
Person who uses a wheelchair
Do not use:
Confined or restricted to a wheelchair
Use:
Person with a disability
Do not use:
Disabled, handicapped
Use:
Accessible parking or bathroom
Do not use:
Handicapped parking or bathroom
Use:
Person without a disability
Do not use:
Normal person, healthy person
Use:
Person who is successful, productive
Do not use:
Has overcome his/her disability, is courageous
Every person is unique! If you are unsure, ask the person his or her preference.
Hear from our employees celebrating Disability Pride Month
Deb Sparrow
Retail Administrative Assistant
"Disability Pride Month is important to me, because it offers me a space to feel empowered by my disability, rather than burdened by it. I can look at the past 30 years of my life and feel proud knowing what I have overcome, and the strength it took to get here."
Frederick Caribardi
Property Manager
"I am a member of the DAV (Disabled American Veterans). Disability Pride Month, I am proud to be associated with, It gives those who have faced trials more than the average person, to overcome and accomplish whatever goals it is they have set out to do. Most importantly to sustain their positive self-worth in their own personal life and society."
Celebrating companies who make a difference
Cradle Beach
Located in Angola, NY, Cradle Beach was founded in 1888 as a fresh air mission to help families and children in Buffalo battling disease. Now, Cradle Beach offers year-round respite programs for people with disabilities aged 8-88. Simultaneously, Cradle Beach hosts an inclusive summer camp for children with and without disabilities to build long lasting friendships together.
M&T Card Decks by MagnusCards®
We are excited to be the first U.S.-based bank to partner with Magnusmode.
M&T’s MagnusCards® introduce you to fundamental steps in banking. Topics include counting money, using an ATM, making a withdrawal from a teller, and making a purchase with your debit card.
