July is Disability Pride Month!
32 years ago on July 26th, 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed into law the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This legislation prohibited discrimination against people with disabilities. Along with providing protections to persons with disabilities, the ADA requires reasonable accommodations be made by employers for employees that have disabilities. Additionally, accessibility requirements must be made in public spaces.
Since the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into legislation, many strides have been made toward equality for persons with disabilities. Beginning in Boston quickly after the signing of ADA, the first Disability Pride Day Event was held. This eventually led to the creation of Disability Pride Month in July with pride events being held across the world. Though many people are not aware of Disability Pride Month, many parades and even a Pride Flag have been created to celebrate the positive differences of disabled people. Stony Brook University describes the flag’s meaning below:
The Disability Pride Flag was created by Ann Magill, a disabled woman, and each of its elements symbolizes a different part of the disability community.
The Black Field: this field is to represent the disabled people who have lost their lives due not only to their illness, but also to negligence, suicide, and eugenics.
The Colors: Each color on this flag represents a different aspect of disability or impairment.
Red: physical disabilities
Yellow: cognitive and intellectual disabilities
White: invisible and undiagnosed disabilities
Blue: mental illness
Green: sensory perception disabilities
All in all, the creation of Disability Pride events celebrate being different both in the month of July and throughout the year. According to World Bank, approximately 1 billion people (around 15% of the world’s population) experience some form of disability (both visible and non-visible). Therefore, Disability Pride celebrates being different and challenges ableism in society. Utilize the month of July to celebrate those around you who may have a disability by recognizing the positives that come from their differences.
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