Celebrating Disability Pride Month: Honoring Strength, Identity, and Community

July is Disability Pride Month, a time to recognize, celebrate, and honor the diversity, history, and experiences of people with disabilities. This month marks the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), passed on July 26, 1990, which was a landmark moment in civil rights history for people with disabilities in the United States.

Disability Pride Month is about more than awareness; it is about pride, empowerment, and visibility. It challenges ableism by promoting the idea that disability is a natural and beautiful part of human diversity, not something to be ashamed of or hidden. It is a celebration of the identity, culture, and contributions of disabled people in all areas of society.

For many, disability pride means embracing their disability as an integral part of who they are. It is about rejecting societal pressures to “overcome” or “fix” disability and instead focusing on accessibility, inclusion, and the dismantling of barriers that limit opportunity and participation.

How Can We Celebrate Disability Pride Month?

• Learn from disabled voices. Read books, watch documentaries, and follow activists who share their experiences and perspectives.

• Amplify disabled creators and leaders. Share their work and support businesses and organizations led by people with disabilities.

• Advocate for accessibility and inclusion. Evaluate your workplace, programs, and services to ensure they are welcoming and inclusive for all.

• Reflect on ableism. Challenge biases and assumptions about disability in yourself and your community.

• Show up and support. Attend Disability Pride events, parades, or virtual gatherings in solidarity.

This month, let us stand with pride alongside the disability community, not just in July but every day, working together to build a more inclusive, accessible, and equitable world for all.