News  Let Go of Disability Stigma

Cold hands and warm hearts filled City Hall Plaza on Tuesday, December 10, as MassAbility, in partnership with marketing agency Argus, hosted its first interactive event “Let Go of Disability Stigma”. At the center of the event was a massive four-sided cube bearing the statement, “We have the ability to leave stigma behind”. This thought-provoking installation invited visitors to stop, read, reflect, and share their own words of encouragement and stories of resilience. 

One man stood reading the cube from afar. When approached and asked if he’d like to write a message, he pulled up his pant leg to reveal a prosthetic leg, festively wrapped with a Dragon Ball Z design. He smiled and said, “There’s no stigma from me.”

A father and his son, who has autism, made a special trip to City Hall for the event. The father wrote, “The bravest people I know have invisible disabilities,” while his son proudly added, “I have [come] a very long way.”  

Even passersby on their daily commute were drawn to the cube. One commuter stopped to contribute the simple but profound message: “Compassion is wisdom.” 

This event brought together residents from across the Commonwealth, fostering connection and encouraging meaningful conversations about disability stigma and resilience. Although the event is over, we're continuing the conversation at r/LetStigmaGo where the public can share their stories and engage with one another.