People with disabilities make up the largest and most diverse minority group in the United States, representing all abilities, ages, races, ethnicities, religions, and socio-economic backgrounds. It is estimated that 1-in-4 adults in the US have some type of disability, so it’s no surprise that a movement of Disability Pride is emerging and rapidly expanding.
What is Disability Pride?
Disability pride is defined as accepting and honoring each person’s uniqueness and seeing it as a natural and beautiful part of human diversity. Disability pride is an integral part of an inclusive crusade and, furthermore, a direct challenge to systemic ableism and stigmatizing definitions of disability.
Oftentimes, people solely think about disability as a medical diagnosis. But disability is far more than just the physical and/or mental effects on the body. Disability is much more than the medication one may take or the specialized physicians one may visit. It’s a part of who a person is. A disability is not the only identity you have; of course, you may also identify by gender, race, height, and many other attributes. All of your unique individuality is important and has value.
What is Disability Pride Month?
Disability Pride Month began in 1990, the year that the Americans With Disabilities (ADA) Act was signed into law by President George H.W. Bush. That same year, the first-ever Disability Pride parade was held in Boston to celebrate the law’s passage. The ADA’s civil rights protections require employers and public spaces to meet basic accommodations for disabled people, like installing wheelchair ramps and allowing service animals in spaces. The ADA also prevents employers from discriminating against disabled job candidates.
The ADA’s passage was made possible by the work of disabled activists, who led a public campaign to force government officials to pay attention to the basic rights of disabled people in the months and years leading up to the law. One of the most notable actions was the “Capitol Crawl,” in which 1,000 people marched to the Capitol building on March 12, 1990, to demand Congress pass the ADA. It was dubbed a “crawl” because 60 disabled organizers put aside their walking aids and wheelchairs to pull themselves up the steps of the Capitol.
The first ‘Disability Pride Day’ was held in Boston in 1990, and the first U.S.-based Disability Pride Parade was held in Chicago in 2004. Today, disability pride parades are held nationwide, such as in Los Angeles, New York City, San Antonio and Madison, among other locations. These events celebrate disability culture to progressively influence the way civilization thinks about and/or perceives disabilities – with the ultimate goal to put an end to stigmas surrounding disability.
While Disability Pride Month has gained traction on social media platforms in recent years, many large employers, government entities, and organizations still fail to recognize it.
