Everything Is Not Ok—That’s All the More Reason to Celebrate

July is Disability Pride Month.

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 this year.  Mustering enthusiasm for Disability Pride Month may feel hard, 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. Disability Pride means refusing to let struggle define the value of disabled lives. Disability Pride celebrates that inherent worth, and rejects the idea that disability is something to hide or "overcome." 

Social movements need joy and passion to fuel their work. If advocacy existed on determination alone, people would quickly become overwhelmed or burnt out. We need to strengthen relationships, recognize people leading the way, and come together to fuel the critical work ahead.

Finally, Disability Pride Month is a chance to reach a broader audience. Many people without disabilities - or with our a loved one with a disability - know very little about disability culture, history, or the barriers disabled people regularly face. This is a month to collectively amplify messaging and reach people in new and different ways. (For more on the history of Disability Pride Month, check out last year's blog post)
 

This July, we’d like to encourage all who are able to:

• Show Up. Find a Disability Pride Month event (see list below) and attend, preferably with friends and family. Numbers create visibility and attract attention. Better yet, contact local media and make sure they know about the event and consider covering it.
   
• Be Visible. Hang a Disability Pride flag in your yard or window, wear a pin or t-shirt, or post about Disability Pride on social media. Your friends, family, and community won’t know what is important to you unless you tell them.
   

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  Ask for Support. We are all part of different networks. What is your town doing to recognize Disability Pride Month? What about your local library, church, or coffee shop?  Would they hang a flag, organize a book reading, display art, invite a speaker, watch a film, or otherwise recognize the month in a way that feels authentic?  If we ask those within our network to join us in recognizing Disability Pride, many will be more than happy to do so. 
   

• Keep Learning. There are ways all of us can become better allies for people with disabilities. An easy way to start is with Karen Catlin's "Better Allies" weekly newsletter, which offers five simple ways to create more inclusive workplaces. Check out her most recent newsletter here.

Here are a few 2026 Disability Pride Month Events happening Online and in New Jersey:

• Disability Pride Flag Raising Ceremony (210 Chestnut Street, Roselle)
  Monday, July 13, 2026
  5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
  More information
   
• Turning Points: The Disability Rights Movement Webinar (Virtual)
  Thursday, July 16, 2026
  2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
  More information
   
• Disability Pride Month Celebration (Pier Village, Long Branch)
  Friday, July 17, 2026
  10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
  More information
   
• Disability Independence Day Flag Raising Ceremony (Clifton City Hall, Clifton)
  Sunday, July 26, 2026
  3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
  More information
   
• “Change, Not Charity: The Americans with Disabilities Act” Film Screening (Alliance Center for Independence, Edison)
  Wednesday, July 29, 2026
  4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
  More information

2026 Disability Pride Month Events happening in NYC:

• Disability Unite Festival (Central Park Bandshell)
  Sunday, July 12, 2026
  11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
  More information
   
•  2026 Disability Pride Parade NYC (Madison Square Park)
  Sunday, October 18, 2026
  11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
  More information