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When we think of July, the first thoughts that come to mind are summer heat, ice cream, watermelon, and the Fourth of July.
But what many of us don’t know is that July is also Disability Pride Month, a month that celebrates the history, achievements, and experiences of the disability community. July marks the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
On July 26, 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed into law this landmark law prohibiting all discrimination against people with disabilities and ensuring that they have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else.
The celebration originally began in Boston in 1990 as Disability Pride Day, but over the years has grown into a month-long event.
In 2015, former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio declared July Disability Pride Month, and over the years other cities and states have begun to recognize it as well.
Author Ann McGill, who has cerebral palsy, designed the flag for Disability Pride Month. The flag’s diagonal stripes symbolize light breaking through the darkness and people with disabilities overcoming obstacles.
Each stripe is a different color, and the colors represent the type of fault.
The colours represent the following disabilities: red – physical, yellow – cognitive/intellectual, white – invisible/undiagnosed, blue – mental/psychiatric, green – sensory.
Additionally, the flag’s background is charcoal black, which honors those with disabilities who have lost their lives to violence, ableism, negligence, suicide or illness.
There are many ways to celebrate Disability Pride Month, including participating in parades, reading books by disabled authors, following disability activists, and donating to disability-focused organizations.
This month, learn more about their experiences, the challenges they face, ways to support them, and ways to celebrate their achievements.