It's July, and that means it's Disability Pride Month! Ever wonder why we celebrate it in July?
Disability Pride Month is celebrated in July in honor of the passage of the Americans With Disability Act (ADA) on July 26, 1990. According to the Arc of the United States “This month challenges the harmful idea that people with disabilities need to conform to norms to live meaningful lives.”
The Arc’s National Council of Self-Advocates chose the 2025 theme “We Belong Here, and We’re Here to Stay” for this year's Disability Pride Month. It’s a strong message that tells us that people with disabilities are part of the fabric of America and can’t be dismissed. Even though many DEI initiatives have been eliminated across the country, people with disabilities are pushing back.
The Arc’s Self-Advocates tell us “Disability Pride is about being accepted on our own terms. It says disability is not something to hide or fix—it’s part of who we are. Everyone deserves inclusion, rights, and respect, without having to earn them.”
This year's Disability Pride Month is coming at an uncertain time for many individuals receiving Medicaid. Many important and worthy disability organizations are also facing proposed federal and state budget cuts, and this landscape of funding uncertainty creates tremendous stress and uncertainty for the individuals relying on their services.
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), a time to recognize and celebrate the incredible contributions of workers with disabilities while raising awareness about the importance of creating truly inclusive employment opportunities.
Everyone deserves the opportunity to work, contribute their talents, build independence, and experience the pride that comes with earning a paycheck.
This month, we had the privilege of speaking with Marie, a woman who dreamed of working and earning her own paycheck, not only for the independence it would provide, but for the simple joys of being able to shop and buy gifts for her family. We asked her to share, in her own words, why employment is meaningful and the difference that an opportunity to work can make in someone’s life.
July is Disability Pride Month. But with community living protections being challenged by the Department of Justice, increased concern about a reduced commitment to home and community based services (HCBS), and shifting oversight on special education, many people in the disability community are feeling less-than-celebratory. Mustering enthusiasm for Disability Pride Month may feel hard this year, and people may be wondering what there is to celebrate.
However, Disability Pride Month has never been about pretending everything is fine. Disability Pride Month exists because disability rights took decades of organizing, protest, and persistence—even in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles.
