I was about 6 or 7 years old. The local council (back when UK local councils actually had money) had funded a cinema trip for every class. It was so that every child, whether rich or poor, gets to have the experience of going to a cinema, enjoying some popcorn, and the big screen.
Like all cinemas, it had these giant posters marketing the films. We all looked curiously at the ones marked “18+”. Just over a decade to go before we could be real grown ups and watch the scary movies!
But then something made my face fall.
The film we had come to watch didn’t have subtitles.
Most of the teachers accompanying us kids turn to me, with insincerely sorrowful faces.
They say, “Well, Naomi. It’s too bad, but there’s no subtitles. You’ll just have to sit silently and behave for the next hour and a half. Remember to stay quiet the whole time – you mustn’t disturb everyone watching the film.”
My class teacher is incredulous. “Naomi needs subtitles. She won’t understand the film without them.”
The other teachers say, “That’s true, but when there’s no subtitles, what else can we do? It wouldn’t be right to just go straight back, everyone’s been looking forward to this, and we’re already here.”
My teacher points to a different movie poster, which shows two robots holding hands, one like a rusty block and the other curved and gleaming white.
“This one, Wall-E, has subtitles.”
But the group of teachers have other ideas:
“Subtitles will disturb the other kids. Naomi missing out and having to be silent for a couple hours isn’t as bad as everyone’s enjoyment being reduced by words on the bottom of the screen.”
“But it’s supposed to be a treat for everyone, not everyone except Naomi.”
“Well, Naomi can still see what’s happening on screen, can’t she?”
“How is that going to hold her interest for nearly two hours when she doesn’t have a clue what is happening and must stay silent so can’t even ask?”
“Well, she’ll just have to behave. What’s the big deal?”
“The big deal is it looks like Naomi’s being punished. I wouldn’t be surprised if she saw it that way.”
“Okay, sure, it’s unfortunate for Naomi, but if you just explain to her, it won’t be a punishment. Whereas it would be for the other kids. We hate when subtitles are on, imagine how it must be for them. And anyway, they’ve specifically been looking forward to the film we were originally going to watch.”
At this point my teacher turns to us kids. “Hey, you don’t mind if we watch Wall-E do you? Robots becoming friends, saving the world, and there’s even spaceships. Sound fun?”
And us kids all cheer.
A few days later, running into him in the high street, I hug him. One of the best teachers ever.
Disability Pride is about being proud of your disability, not being othered. And in this case, it was about a deaf kid enjoying a movie with all the other kids.
I hope you enjoyed your July and Disability Pride Month!
Naomi the Wordsmith 
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