This July Celebrate Disability Pride Month

This month is Disability Pride Month, an annual July observance that celebrates people with disabilities who are a vital part of every community and recognizes their many contributions to American life.

It also commemorates the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act 35 years ago on July 26, 1990.

More than 70 million people in the U.S—that’s about one in every four adults—have a disability. Disability Pride Month brings into focus why we need to encourage inclusion. Our friends, family, and neighbors with impairments deserve to be accepted exactly as they are, without conditions.

The first Disability Pride Day was celebrated in Boston in 1990. And our own City of Chicago hosted the first Disability Pride Parade in 2004. Since then, Disability Pride Month has grown into a worldwide event and through happenings in our own country, Americans with disabilities can take pride in who they are.

As disability rights face growing threats in education, employment, healthcare, and public life, we are reminded that people with disabilities still face barriers. Disability rights are under attack—from cuts to Medicaid and Social Security, to threats against school protections like IDEA and Section 504.*

So now, more than ever, the Chicago disability attorneys at Nash Disability Law along with organizations and individuals who advocate for people with disabilities encourage you to get involved. Here’s what you can do during Disability Pride Month and every other month:

• Write, email, or phone your elected officials. Tell them to fight against the erosion of rights for people with disabilities.
• Push back on outdated thinking and hateful language every time you encounter it.
• Talk to people with disabilities in your community. Learn what matters most to them and do what you can to help them achieve their goals.
• Support organizations led by and for people with disabilities with your donations and volunteer time.

And, finally, have some fun this month! Come to the 22nd Annual Chicago Disability Pride Parade on July 26, 2025, at 400 S. Plymouth Ct. The parade starts at 11a.m. (For more about the parade, visit Chicago Disability Pride online.)

* IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 are two separate but related federal laws that protect the rights of students with disabilities in the United States. IDEA focuses on special education services and ensures a free appropriate public education (FAPE) for eligible students with disabilities. Section 504, a civil rights law, prohibits discrimination based on disability in programs and activities that receive federal funding, ensuring equal access and opportunity for students with disabilities.