Disability Pride: 35 Years of Progress

Turning Pride Into Possibility

July is Disability Pride Month, a time to honor disability culture, history, and achievement. At employU, we’re proud to be part of a movement that has grown from one local march into a worldwide celebration. The American Disabilities Act has been a driving force in not only celebrating all abilities, but fostering real opportunity in school, at work, and in our daily lives. This month we are taking a look back at the strides we’ve taken since Disability Pride  began and the ADA became law. 

Signed on July 26, 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) outlawed discrimination in employment, public services, and public spaces. Every curb cut, captioned video, and workplace accommodation traces back to this landmark law. Each one reinforces the pride that grows when people can live, learn, and work without barriers. This law was the catalyst for disability pride recognition on a global level. Take a look at just a few of the landmark events that followed: 

• 1990 – Boston hosted the first Disability Pride Day, when more than 400 people marched from City Hall to Boston Common just weeks after the ADA became law. 

• 2004 – Chicago launched the nation’s first annual Disability Pride Parade, inspiring similar events in dozens of cities. 

• 2015 – New York City officially declared July “Disability Pride Month” to mark the ADA’s 25th anniversary, cementing July as a monthlong, global celebration.  

• 2021 – The updated five color Disability Pride flag  debuted, symbolizing the diversity and unity of the community. 

 The ADA not only allows those within the disability community to thrive without barriers, it also encouraged businesses to foster an inclusive workforce, which also benefits the businesses themselves. Independent research continues to prove what we see daily: 

• Companies that lead on disability inclusion are twice as likely to have higher total shareholder returns than their peers. (accenture.com)

• A 2023 follow-up study found inclusion leaders drive more revenue, net income, and profit across the board. (newsroom.accenture.com) 

At employU, we make it easy for businesses to choose inclusion. Through our business partnerships, our business partners benefit from; 

• Risk-free payroll: During paid On-the-job Trainings (OJTs), employU is the employer of record, wages, taxes, workers’ comp, and $1 million in liability insurance are covered. 

• Hands-on coaching: A trained job coach stays onsite until the trainee is independent.  

• Talent pipeline: We match clients to positions that align with their skills, abilities, schedules, and interests so that host businesses find the right fit fast.  

Disability Pride isn’t just felt in the workplace, better screening tools means more children have access to resources earlier. For example, CDC data show the prevalence of any diagnosed developmental disability in U.S. children rose from 7.4 % (2019) to 8.6 % (2021), a sign of improved detection, not rising incidence. (cdc.gov )

This means that many students benefit from and have access to more inclusive classrooms. The 2004 reauthorization of IDEA requires “highly qualified” special education teachers in every core subject. (sites.ed.gov) Meanwhile, professional development studies show that training in Universal Design for Learning (UDL) boosts educator confidence and student outcomes. (cast.org) Because of this, we see better prepared teachers, better served students, and smoother transitions from school to work. 

Our Youth Services also help transition high school students from the classroom to the workforce through hands-on learning, real work experience, and career discovery. With employU, students aged 14-22 can: 

• Earn paychecks through work-based learning with local employers.  

• Build skills in 20-hour Work Readiness workshops covering resumes, interviewing, budgeting, and more.  

These experiences let teens test-drive careers before graduation, turning early preparation into early opportunity. 

The internet has also been a driving force in not only making resources and information more accessible, but allowing voices to be heard on a larger scale. Social media gives creators with disabilities a global stage and gives allies clear actions to amplify inclusive messages. We use our social media platforms to highlight the successes and stories of our clients, provide resources, and break stigmas. (Follow employU on Instagram and Facebook to see more.)  

At employU, we feel that everyone can participate in Disability Pride month by celebrating and amplifying the voices of the disability community together. Whether you’re: 

• A business seeking reliable, motivated talent, 

• A jobseeker looking for the right fit, 

• A student planning your future, or 

• An advocate eager to spread the word, 

employU is here to help turn Disability Pride into lasting possibility through coaching, training, and partnerships. Let’s keep opening doors together. 

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