July is Disability Pride Month - Horizon Project INC

“Disability Pride Month is an annual event celebrated in recognition of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26, 1990. That same year, Boston held the first Disability Pride Day. The first official celebration of Disability Pride Month occurred in July 2015, which also marked the 25th anniversary of the ADA. Since then, cities across the country have celebrated disability pride month with parades and other festivities.” ^[1]

Disability pride emerged in response to negative views of disability and to promote human rights.

What is ADA?

“ADA means the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Americans with Disabilities Act was passed on July 26th, 1990.

ADA promotes “accepting and honoring each person’s uniqueness and seeing it as a natural and beautiful part of human diversity” and connects it to the larger movement for disability justice.” ^[2]

“The ADA lays out provisions for increased accessibility to physical infrastructure, while also encouraging employers to ensure work environments accommodate individuals with disabilities. The civil rights of people with disabilities are also protected within the ADA, in efforts to prevent discrimination in the workplace and overall.” ^[3]

More information about ADA: https://adata.org/factsheet/ADA-overview

The Flag

“Created in June 2019 by disabled activist Ann Magill, the Disability Pride flag represents:

Having All Six “Standard” Flag Colors: signifying that Disability Community is pan-national, spanning borders between states and nations.

The Black Field: Mourning and rage for victims of ableist violence and abuse including mourning disabled lives lost to murder, suicide, neglect, abuse, and eugenics.
The Diagonal Band: “Cutting across” the walls and barriers that separate the disabled from normative society, also light and creativity cutting through the darkness
The White Stripe: Invisible and Undiagnosed Disabilities
The Red Stripe: Physical Disabilities
The Gold Stripe: Neurodivergence
The Blue Stripe: Psychiatric Disabilities
The Green Stripe: Sensory Disabilities

With input from folks with visually triggered disabilities, Ann redesigned the flag in 2022 after feedback that the ways the colors were laid out caused sensory issues when scrolling.” ^[4]

How to celebrate Disability Pride Month

Walk in a Disability Pride Parade

“In 1990, the first Disability Pride Parade was held in Boston. Today, Disability Pride parades take place in communities all across the nation. Support your disabled friends and family members by joining them for parade activities.” ^[5]

Educate yourself about ableism

“According to AccessLiving.org, ableism is defined as: “The discrimination of and social prejudice against people with disabilities based on the belief that typical abilities are superior. At its heart, ableism is rooted in the assumption that disabled people require ‘fixing’ and defines people by their disability.” Sometimes even those who mean well have ablest attitudes. To learn more about ableism, visit Access Living.” ^[5]

Learn about Disability First language.

“Avoid offensive language about disabled people. Phrases such as “wheelchair bound,” or “suffering from” frame disability in a negative and frightening light. Similarly, descriptors such as “crazy,” “dumb,” “lame,” or “idiot” are all insulting and disrespectful.

For some time, there has been disagreement about whether it is preferable to use “people-first language” i.e., “people with disabilities” or disability-first language i.e., “disabled people.” The ADA National Network has a guide to disability language but when in doubt, ask individuals what they prefer.” ^[5]