Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Erin Noon-Kay . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Erin thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

My company Claiming Disability is based on the concept of #DisabilityPride. I have Cerebral Palsy, a neurological condition that impacts my muscles, and I’ve been disabled since birth. Since I was taught growing up identifying with my disabled identity was a bad thing, I didn’t identify with my disability until I was 27. Since we live in an ableist world, finding your “disability pride,” is a fluid experience. It’s okay if you don’t feel disabled and proud in your journey right now. Disability grief is part of the Disability Pride journey.

“Disability Pride doesn’t mean ignoring struggles of disability it means loving our culture, creating space for disabled people, and acceptance not sugarcoating challenges, “- Erin CEO and Founder of Claiming Disability

I teach disability history because wasn’t taught about the 504 sit ins, the Capitol Crawl of 1990, or significance of the Americans With Disabilities Act. I believe teaching disability history to the younger generation of disabled advocates will give them a sense of community and our culture.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Erin Noon Kay is the CEO & Founder of Claiming Disability. Erin identifies a “fierce disabled entrepreneurial woman,” with Cerebral Palsy. She uses a walker and wheelchair occasionally, but she believes it’s “OK” to look disabled and is working hard to bring representation for disability in film and everyday culture through media projects and disability related content. She believes “disabled,” is NOT is a bad word, but a badge of honor, a beautiful community, a culture. She has worked in the non-profit, governmental, and business sector for over 10 years.

Now, Claiming Disability, is connected to over +30k disability advocates from around the world, including Jim LeBrecht and Nicole Newnham, the Directors/Executive Producers of Crip Camp.
A groundbreaking summer camp galvanizes a group of teens with disabilities to help build a movement, forging a new path toward greater equality.

Claiming Disability wants to spread our messages of empowerment and compassion. We believe that a single action can make a difference in the community, and that shared experiences can greatly impact inclusion. Through advocacy and outreach activities, our team and our community of supporters works to embrace diversity and disability as an asset toward the greater good.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I started my business because I wanted to connect to my disabled identity and disability culture. I was discriminated against at a previous job which isn’t an uncommon story for disabled people in fact most of us have stories like that.

How did you build your audience on social media?

My business Claiming Disability is built from my social media presence. Social media is an accessible infrastructure for many disabled folks. It’s also a way of ensuring accessibility because many disabled people caption their own content and provide image descriptions for accessibility.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/claiming_disability?fbclid=PAAabIlOIyqnfvk19BFsLceg64b0dDnc111fwFbMpYUNeKIxWUmrTbJhDtgYM
• Instagram: erin.claiming_disability
• Facebook: Claiming Disability
• Linkedin: Claiming Disability
• Other: Tiktok: @erinclaimingdisability

Image Credits
Steve Way SAG-AFTRA Actor on Hulus Ramy Jim LeBrecht Oscar Nominated Documentary Director Crip Camp