Monthly Spotlight - July 2023
Disability Pride Month
Disability Pride Month is celebrated annually during the month of July, with the purpose of raising awareness and promoting acceptance of people with disabilities. The specific origins of Disability Pride Month can be traced back to the early 1990s. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a landmark civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on disability, was signed into law by President George H.W. Bush on July 26, 1990. The ADA is designed to ensure equal opportunities and full participation for people with disabilities in various aspects of life, including employment, public accommodations, transportation, telecommunications, and government services.
The first Disability Pride Day was celebrated in Boston – the year that the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law. In honor of the 25th anniversary of the ADA, New York Mayor, Bill de Blasio, declared July as Disability Pride Month in 2015. Since then, cities across the country have celebrated disability pride month with parades, festivals, educational events, art exhibitions, and advocacy campaigns. These initiatives serve to raise awareness about disability rights, showcase the achievements and talents of individuals with disabilities, and encourage public dialogue on disability-related issues.
Disability Pride Month aims to foster a sense of pride, empowerment, and self-acceptance among people with disabilities while breaking preconceived stigmas and systemic barriers.
Here are 10 organizations around the San Francisco Bay Area to support this July, which devote their programs, services, and events to promoting greater health, visibility, community, and artistic enrichment for those of various mental health, physical, and ongoing health conditions:
- Ability Now Bay Area
- The Arc San Francisco
- Creativity Explored
- Golden Gate Regional Center
- Hearing and Speech Center
- Homebridge
- IN:SAN FRANCISCO
- LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired
- Mental Health Association of San Francisco
- Support for Families of Children with Disabilities
Disability Pride Month represents a significant step forward in our collective journey toward a more inclusive society. By embracing diversity, challenging societal perceptions, promoting inclusion, and empowering individuals, we can create a world where individuals with disabilities are celebrated for their unique abilities and contributions. Together, we can build a society that values and embraces the inherent worth and diversity of every individual, regardless of their abilities. If you want to learn more about the members of the disability community, the American Bar Association launched a 21-Day Disability Equity Habit-Building Challenge syllabus that includes educational materials in reading, video, and podcast formats.
Sources:
https://www.ada.gov/topics/intro-to-ada/ https://it.usembassy.gov/disability-pride-month-celebrates-americans-with-disabilities-act-anniversary/
https://nationalhealthcouncil.org/blog/july-is-disability-pride-month/ https://sanfran.com/july-disability-pride-month-organizations-to-support
