Disability Pride Month is here for the month of July! We compiled a list of resources, videos, podcasts, and more to explain what Disability Pride Month is, why it’s important, and to learn more about disabilities overall.
What is Disability Pride Month?
Disability Pride Month is celebrated every July to honor the diversity, strength, and contributions of people with disabilities. It’s a time to recognize disability as an essential part of the human experience and something to be embraced with pride. The month encourages conversations around accessibility, inclusion, and the importance of representation, while also challenging the stigma and stereotypes that still surround disability in many parts of society.
A Brief History
Disability Pride Month began in 1990, the same year the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law on July 26. This landmark legislation prohibited discrimination against people with disabilities in many areas of public life, including employment, education, and transportation. The first official Disability Pride Day was held in Boston in 1990, and since then, cities across the U.S. have held Disability Pride parades and events. Over time, July has grown into a month-long celebration, serving as both a commemoration of civil rights progress and a platform for ongoing advocacy.
The Disability Pride flag features a black background with five zigzag stripes in different colors. Each stripe represents a part of the diverse disability community: red stands for physical disabilities, gold for neurodivergence, white for invisible and undiagnosed disabilities, blue for psychiatric disabilities, and green for sensory disabilities. The black background honors those who have lost their lives due to ableism, neglect, or lack of access to proper care. The zigzag pattern reflects the often non-linear and unique journeys of people with disabilities, symbolizing resilience and creativity in navigating the world. Learn more about the Disability Pride flag history and the Disability Pride flag here.
As students, Disability Pride Month is to support classmates with disabilities, and become allies in the effort to create a more accessible and equitable learning environment, including using the correct language. Whether it’s educating yourself on disability justice or advocating for improvements in accessibility, there are many ways to get involved. Check out this article on how to celebrate disability pride month and further information on advocating for others.
Resources:
Short video:
Our Truths, Our Power- Google’s Disability Alliance- Co-directed by Aubrie Lee (Google) and Jim LeBrecht (Filmmaker) https://youtu.be/mof8iaLz4mk
Podcasts:
- The Heumann perspective https://judithheumann.com/heumann-perspective/
- #MEAction’s podcast https://www.meaction.net/chronically-complex-meaction-podcast/
Documentaries:
- Unrest- now free on YouTube: https://www.unrest.film/
- Crip Camp: https://cripcamp.com/
- How to Survive a Plague: https://surviveaplague.com/
- Selection of documentaries https://www.pbs.org/articles/disability-pride-month-and-the-disability-rights-movement/
Books:
- Disability Visibility and Year of the Tiger by Alice Wong https://disabilityvisibilityproject.com/book/
- Being Heumann by Judith Heumann https://judithheumann.com/being-heumann/
- Demystifying Disability by Emily Ladau https://emilyladau.com/book/
- The Invisible Kingdom by Meghan O’Rourke https://meghanorourke.com/
- The Long Haul by Ryan Prior https://www.ryantprior.com/the-long-haul
- When Force Meets Fate by Jamison Hill https://jamisonwrites.com/
- The Long Covid Survival Guide edited by Fiona Lowenstein https://www.fionalowenstein.com/longcovid-survivalguide