What is Disability Pride Month?
Credit: University of Chicago Illinois
What is Disability Pride Month?
On July 26, 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law – prohibiting discrimination against people with disabilities in employment, transportation, public accommodations, and communications, in relation to access to state and local government services. The support and freedom this act has created gave rise to how, every July we celebrate Disability Pride Month to commemorate the passage of this landmark civil rights law. The same government that enacted the law only started officially recognize the Disability Pride Month in the United States in 2004. Time to start planning for the 20th anniversary for next year!
Credit: League of Women Voters
Let’s make it clear that, disability pride is not to overlook the challenges and barriers people with disabilities encounter – the point is to celebrate the contributions and worth of people from the community, honor dignity, protect rights, promote visibility, and applaud achievements. DPM is a reminder of these importances and why they are being fought.
What is considered a disability?
According to the World Health Organization, the disability community has been called “the world’s largest minority,” as an estimated 15 percent of the world’s population live with some type of disability. At an even higher ratio, one in 4, or 27%, of adults in the United States have some type of disability, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports.
Credit: CDC
Historically we tend to think of people with disabilities as a singular population – statistically, it’s a much more diverse group of people with varying needs. We mostly consider physical or outward disabilities yet there are also many classifications for intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs). Sometimes this means constant hurdles or the need of assistance toward the abilities of learning, reasoning, problem-solving, and living independently. Sometimes it means being actively divergent as presented by the SSI:
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Learning Disabilities
- Mobility Disabilities
- Medical Disabilities
- Psychiatric Disabilities
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Visual Impairments
- Deaf and Hard of Hearing
- Concussion
- Autism Spectrum Disorders
Please note that this is not the full list and the list continues to grow to be more inclusive. While some progress is being made at the legislative level – for example, the passage of the ADA Amendments Act in 2008 – more should be done before we live in a truly inclusive world.
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Credit: Find Your Own Hope
Why Disability Pride Month is Celebrated
The treatment of people with disabilities throughout our history has been largely marred by segregation, discrimination, and blockades of basic human rights. Strides within the community that have pushed governing bodies to recognize the community are one of the many things to celebrate. Intrinsically, there’s much more to be prideful about:
- Embracing life and promoting inclusivity
- Reclaiming a sense of identity and reducing stigma
- Redefining the power dynamic that is shaping our society
- Highlighting the importance of a diverse community
- Pride in being different and finding your community
- Recognition that disability is natural
- Realization of the self-worth of people with disabilities
- Awareness that people with disabilities live with self-worth
- Celebration of the contributions, skills, strengths, and attributes of people with disabilities
- Empowering and advocating for yourself and others
Attend a Disability Pride Month event in your area for years to come as this list grows (or contact local/state entities on how you can help head a parade, gathering, or convention in your area):
- California: Disability Pride LA
- New York: Disability Unite Festival
- Washington: Disability Pride Month – Artistic Justice Showcase
- Pennsylvania: Disability Pride PA
- Illinois: Disability Pride Parade
- Missouri: FestAbility: A Celebration of Disabilities
The Disability Pride Parade in Chicago. Photo by Sergio Goncalves via Wikimedia Commons
What You Can Do for Others (or Yourself)
- Watch and read media that has been created by and with people with disabilities, such as Crip Camp, CODA, Demystifying Disability, and Disability Visibility
- Support PBS and their series by the disability community made for all
- Follow activists like Imani Barbarin, Catarina Rivera, Aaron Philip, and Source America on social media
- Volunteer or donate, if and where you can to organizations such as The Arc, anyone on this intersectional list, these disability nonprofits, or these resources
Credit: CUNY
“Disability pride can simply mean being proud of your whole self and embracing who you are with your disability. Disability pride is not looking at what you can’t do but focusing on what you CAN do. Disability pride is advocating for your needs, spreading awareness for inclusivity and acceptance, and educating those who may not have all the answers. Disability pride is recognizing you may need some help to do certain things, but not giving up to achieve your goals and make your mark on the world.”
– Jamie Austin, Itinerant TVI at the Maryland School for the Blind Statewide/Outreach Services Department
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