What Is Disability Pride Month?

Disability Pride Month has been celebrated every July since former President George H.W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities, into law in 1990. That year, the first Disability Pride Day was celebrated in Boston. From then on, July has been named Disability Pride Month and celebrated by many throughout the country.  

While the term disability is not a new one, it can often be hard to define. According to the CDC, a disability is “any condition of the body or mind that makes it more difficult for the person with the condition to do certain activities and interact with the world around them.”   

A disability can impact a person’s 

• Vision 
• Movement 
• Thinking 
• Memory 
• Learning 
• Communicating 
• Hearing 
• Mental health 
• Social relationships 

61 million, or 1 in 4, adults in the United States have a disability. This means the disability community is one that is large and diverse, and the implementation of the ADA positively impacted many Americans’ lives. One of the most comprehensive pieces of civil rights legislation, the ADA specifically prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in areas such as employment, public accommodations, transportation, communications, and access to state and local government programs and services. 

This month we are not only celebrating the enactment of the ADA, but we are also celebrating pride in one’s whole self. Knowing that you are entitled to reasonable accommodations and how to ask for them is also a part of disability pride. Though it can be difficult to know how to best navigate these situations, Self-Advocacy classes (for both youth and adults) can help strengthen self-advocacy skills and assist in understanding one’s rights and specific accommodations.  

Promoting visibility and awareness, Disability Pride Month uplifts our local communities while challenging the stigma some within the disability community still face today. This month-long celebration aims to positively influence the public perception of what it means to have a disability. Though employU celebrates and advocates for people with disabilities year-round, we encourage everyone to take the time this month to amplify the voices of people with disabilities. To learn more about Disability Pride Month and how you can get involved visit https://www.inclusivecitymaker.com/disability-pride-month-what-is-it-why-is-it-important/  

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