What is Disability Pride?

Launched in Boston in 1990, the same year the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed, Disability Pride has been a part of the disabilities community each July, celebrating the over 1 billion people around the world with disabilities, honoring the Disabled Identity, reinforcing the fact that disability is not abnormality, rather it’s a part of the beautiful diversity that is being human, and fighting against a history of stigmatization, shame, and isolation with unabashed self-determination and PRIDE! 

Parades and festivities happen every year in major cities like Chicago (the first parade, starting in 2004) and New York (since 2015). Disability Pride is officially recognized by at least two cities nationwide, including New York (in 2015) and San Francisco (in 2020), though very few cities and no states have official proclamations commemorating the month.  It also has yet to receive any official National designation in the U.S. Code.  More than just a means of self advocacy and a push for acceptance, Disability Pride is above all a celebration of inclusion and the individuals with disabilities who are proud to be themselves!

Intersectionality

Each of us is the sum of our parts, with multi-dimensional identities combining to create our own unique individuality. To wit, people with disabilities are not defined solely by their Disabled identity, though that is a part of their whole selves of which they can certainly be proud. Disability, gender, race, religion, ethnic background, sexual orientation, and more; these identities weave a diverse tapestry making up ourselves, coexisting in the same body. Pride is the embracing of these facets of the person beyond simply acceptance, but with full inclusion and full-hearted love.

Learn More

The National Council on Independent Living provides an incredible Disability Pride Toolkit with information and further resources touching on intersectionality, representation, ableism, the history of Disability Rights, and encouraging pride in the Disabled identity.

To learn more about the Disability Rights movement and its lead into Disability Pride, UC Berkeley has incredible archives and oral histories that you should check out.