June is Disability Pride Month
Disability Pride Month is celebrated every July to honor the history, achievements, experiences, and struggles of the disability community. It marks the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), landmark legislation that seeks to break barriers to inclusion in society. According to the Arc of The United States, “People with disabilities deserve to live full, self-determined lives, just like everyone else. Yet discrimination persists for the 1 in 4 U.S. adults living with a disability.”
The first celebration was a Disability Pride Day that took place in Boston in 1990. Chicago hosted the first Disability Pride Parade in 2004. Now there are events nationwide empowering people with disabilities to take pride in who they are. This year’s theme, “We Want a Life Like Yours” comes from The Arc’s National Council of Self-Advocates.
Learn more about the history of Disability Pride Month and the story of the flag here:
Disability Pride Flag Origin, Meaning – Disability Pride Month (womansday.com)
Ways you can learn more and celebrate:
Watch and read books, media, and music about the Disability Experience from people with disabilities, such as Disability Visibility, Crip Camp,CODA,Demystifying Disability,
Lachi, Disabled Hikers, and The Ride Ahead
Visit The Disability Rights Movement:A Virtual Exhibit
Learn more about Disability and Blackness:The 504 Protests and the Black Panther Party
Learn More about The Power and Presence of Indigenous Disabled Stories
Learn more about the One Out of Five: Disability History and Pride Project housed with the Governor’s Office of the Education Ombuds, and in partnership with Rooted in Rights and two local educators, Adina Rosenburg and Sarah Arvey. This was designed as a guide for public schools in Washington to address Disability History Month, celebrated in October every year.