Disability Pride Month is celebrated in July, in commemoration of the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The American Bar Association discusses the history of Disability Pride Month and what it means. Essentially, Disability Pride Month is an opportunity to celebrate the full authentic selves of individuals who have a disability. It is not affiliated with LGBTQ+ Pride month celebrated in June.  The Americans with Disabilities Act was enacted on July 26, 1990 by President George H.W. Bush. This landmark legislation broke down barriers to inclusion in society. The ADA prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in many areas of society including employment, education, transportation, public venues and accommodations, and access to state and local government’s programs and services. Its enactment helped open doors and opportunities for individuals who require an accommodation. Many individuals have been empowered to attain their highest potential and celebrate their authentic selves as a result of this legislation.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 27% of the U.S. population has some type of disability.

Although great strides have been made, we need to unapologetically normalize disability, the people who experience and identify with it, and the wide range of supports they need to thrive.

Disability Pride Month has its own flag with its own meaning:

• Faded black background represents “the anger and mourning over the eugenics and the neglect that disabled people have to fight against.”
• Red represents physical disabilities.
• Gold is for neurodiversity.
• White represents invisible disabilities and disabilities that haven’t yet been diagnosed.
• Blue stands for emotional and psychiatric disabilities, including mental illness, anxiety, and depression.
• Green is for sensory disabilities, including deafness, blindness, lack of smell or taste, audio processing disorder, and all other sensory disabilities.

There are phenomenal organizations that offer opportunities to volunteer and learn more about how to support our friends, family members and neighbors that may need accommodations and support. To learn more about the excellent programming available to individuals with disabilities and their families, please visit the Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center page.

To learn more about the ADA, you can look at this U.S. Department of Labor resource page.