How To Celebrate Disability Pride Month
Every year in July, people around the United States celebrate Disability Pride Month. This celebration serves as a way to honor the more than 70 million adults living with a disability across the country. While many people know someone with a disability, they may not be aware of all the types of disabilities that exist and the numerous ways that society benefits from the contributions of people living with disabilities. This article will discuss various physical and psychiatric disabilities, ways to celebrate Disability Pride Month, and how people with disabilities and their loved ones can seek support.
The origin of Disability Pride Month
July is Disability Pride Month, and it commemorates the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26, 1990. 1990 was the first year that Disability Pride Day was celebrated in Boston. Fourteen years later, the first Disability Pride Parade took place in Chicago. Today, Disability Pride Month is a time to celebrate disability history and raise awareness of many of the subtle forms of ableism that persist in society.
Disability Pride Month in 2025
In 2025, the theme for Disability Pride Month is “We Belong Here, and We Are Here to Stay.” This theme was chosen by the National Council of Self-Advocates of the ARC, an organization that advocates for disability rights. As disability rights are under threat in various places around the country, this year’s theme can serve as a reminder to all that people with disabilities are here and will not be ignored.
How to support people with disabilities
One way to support people with disabilities during Disability Pride Month may be to advocate for their rights. In some places, disability rights may be under threat due to budget cutbacks and political tension. When this occurs, individuals without disabilities can make a difference by speaking up and calling their local congressional representatives to voice their concerns. People can also speak up in the workplace to advocate for accessible spaces and inclusion of all people.
Another way to support disabled people is to attend Disability Pride parades or other events. Even people who don’t personally know a person with a disability can make a difference by showing up to these events to increase visibility. The positive pride shared by individuals inside and outside of the community can be encouraging to those living with disabilities.
Types of disabilities
Many people are aware of various types of physical disabilities, such as visually triggered disabilities like loss of vision, but some aren’t aware of other types of disabilities that can’t be seen. Some disabilities can affect people neurologically, yet appear invisible to those who don’t experience them. These disabilities can still have a very real impact and may affect people socially and professionally.
In addition, some disabilities don’t yet have a name and haven’t been studied, which may lead to a lack of understanding from people who don’t understand the effects of such disabilities. Some people may keep their disabilities to themselves out of fear of judgment from others.
Therapy for individuals with disabilities and their loved ones
Some individuals living with a disability may benefit from speaking with a licensed therapist—not because a disability is a deficit to be corrected, but because some people experience the effects of disability discrimination or a lack of resources. Therapy can help people process the emotional challenges related to ableism and exclusion. A therapist can also provide strategies for people with disabilities to advocate for their needs in various contexts, whether at work or in civic institutions.
Getting online support
Some people living with a disability may have trouble finding time to attend in-person therapy appointments. In these cases, accessible help is available through online therapy. BetterHelp has a network of more than 30,000 therapists, which may make it easier to find a therapist who understands some of the challenges experienced by people with disabilities. With online therapy, individuals with disabilities can communicate with their therapists via audio, video, live chat, or a combination of these methods. They can also reach out to their therapists at any time through in-app messaging, and their therapists will generally respond as soon as they can.
In addition to offering flexible communication options, online therapy has a strong basis of support in scientific research. One study found that online cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) was an effective form of treatment for depression, generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety, bipolar disorder, and substance use disorder, among other mental health conditions. Online therapy can also help people who are chronically ill and experiencing emotional challenges related to their condition.
Takeaway
Disability Pride Month serves as a way to celebrate the many contributions of individuals with disabilities and advocate for disability rights. People looking to support those with disabilities can celebrate by attending Disability Pride events and learning more about human diversity and the many types of disabilities that people experience. Individuals with disabilities can find professional support by speaking with a licensed therapist, whether in person or online. With BetterHelp, most people can be matched with a therapist in as little as 48 hours.
When did Disability Pride Month start?
Disability Pride Month started in 2015. However, the first Disability Pride event took place in 1990, the year that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed. The first Disability Pride Day took place in Boston in the same year.
What are the colors of the Disability Pride Flag?
The Disability Pride Flag contains several colors. Blue represents psychiatric and emotional disabilities, red stands for physical disabilities, gold stands for neurodiversity, green stands for sensory disabilities (e.g., blindness), and white represents invisible disabilities, as well as those that have yet to be diagnosed.
What are some ways to celebrate Disability Pride Month?
One way to celebrate Disability Pride Month is to attend a march or pride event to enhance visibility and support the disability rights movement. Another way to support the disability community is to educate oneself on the many ways that people with disabilities contribute to society despite experiencing discrimination.
Where can people with disabilities receive help?
Some communities have a disability community resource center where people can receive support and information about disability resources. Individuals living with a disability can also receive emotional support through in-person or online therapy.
What are some books to read for Disability Pride Month?
The following are some books to read during Disability Pride Month:
Demystifying Disability: What to Know, What to Say, and How to Be an Ally by Emily Ladau
Disability Visibility: First-Person Stories from the Twenty-First Century by Alice Wong
Being Heumann: An Unrepentant Memoir of a Disability Rights Activist by Judith Heumann
Who was the mother of Disability Rights?
Judy Heumann is often referred to as the mother of Disability Rights. She served as an international disability rights leader for many years.
Is ADHD part of Disability Pride Month?
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can be considered a disability, especially if the condition makes negative impacts on one’s daily life, reducing their access to areas like education, public spaces, relationships, or work. ADHD can cause barriers to daily functioning, such as difficulty focusing, sitting still, or keeping up with those in the “typical” population. Both children and adults may identify as being disabled by ADHD or living with a disability, and the idea or belief that only children experience ADHD can be harmful, leading to internalized shame in adults who struggle to get by due to their symptoms.
What is LGBT disability pride?
Many people who are part of the LGBTQ community (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer+) identify as a person with a disability. Disability pride celebrations are different from typical “Pride Month,” in June, which celebrates the LGBTQ community. However, people within this community may also celebrate disability pride as a diverse minority. They may fight for legal rights, better health care, law changes, and real-life change to promote visibility to both communities and be intentionally inclusive of the diverse socio-economic backgrounds of those in both communities. Disability Pride Month celebrates people regardless of who they are, celebrating key moments in history and striving for change and mainstream awareness.
Why do we celebrate Disability Awareness Month?
Disability Awareness Month is celebrated to normalize talking about disabilities as a natural and beautiful part of life and to share the positive pride felt by disabled individuals worldwide. This month also serves to spread awareness of the challenges faced by this community and give a voice to those who might often be overlooked in society. Individuals can find written answers to their questions about Disability Pride Month by checking out resources, such as the American Bar Association, which has a webpage dedicated to disability pride.
What is the purpose behind Pride Month?
Pride Month is held in June each year and celebrates the Stonewall Inn riots that occurred in the 1960s to stop police raids of the local gay bar. Pride Month also celebrates historic change for the LGBTQ+ community, such as the federal law in 2015 that protected the right to gay marriage across the US. Pride began as a protest and continues to be one, but it is also a celebration and a time to celebrate love and joy.
- Previous Article
- Next Article