Each July, Americans Honor History, Push for Inclusion, and Celebrate Every Person’s Right to Belong
New York, N.Y. — Disability Pride Month is more than an observance—it is a movement rooted in the conviction that every person, regardless of ability, belongs.
Each July, cities across the United States mark Disability Pride Month, commemorating landmark achievements—especially the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act—and pushing us all to recognize the resilience and contributions of people with disabilities.
This month, with the 2025 theme, “We Belong Here, and We’re Here to Stay,” the call to action could not be clearer: bring everyone in, change the conversation, and build a more just society.
The Legacy of a Tireless Movement
Disability Pride Month owes its very existence to the relentless work of advocates and visionaries who refused to let disability define anyone’s worth.
The inaugural Disability Pride Day was marked in July 1990 in Boston, shortly after the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act on July 26, 1990—a legislative milestone that made it unlawful to discriminate against people with disabilities in the U.S.
From local marches in Boston and New York City in the 1990s, the movement expanded over decades.
By July 2015, the 25th anniversary of the ADA, cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York were hosting parades and citywide events, transforming what began as a fledgling demonstration into a nationally recognized month of pride, remembrance, and communal progress.
Visibility: Shining a Light on Culture, Identity, and History
Disability Pride Month exists to push back against centuries of systemic exclusion. The word “pride” is not merely celebratory; it is defiant—insisting on acceptance on every person’s own terms, and affirming that disability can be a beautiful, vital dimension of human diversity.
With more than 70 million adults in the U.S.—that is over 1 in 4—living with a disability, this movement calls on everyone to reflect and act. It is about recognizing the importance of representation in every aspect of culture: from the arts, to sports, to politics, to daily life.
Events such as New York City’s annual Disability Pride Parade and Festival in Union Square Park invite all neighbors, disabled and non-disabled alike, to share in accessible art-making, music, education, and community engagement. These occasions serve as a vibrant display of unity and the determination to make public spaces accessible to all.
The Disability Pride Flag: A Symbol for the Whole Community
The Disability Pride Flag, designed by Ann Magill in 2019, is a profound emblem.
Its six stripes representing physical disabilities (red), neurodiversity (gold), invisible disabilities (white), emotional and psychiatric disabilities (blue), sensory disabilities (green).
Each color cuts diagonally across a dark background symbolizing the violence and loss still borne by the community today.
The creation and ongoing refinement of the flag is itself a testament to the collaborative, inclusive spirit of Disability Pride.
Adjustments are made to ensure the flag was accessible (for example, for people with colorblindness or sensory processing disabilities).
Current Struggles and the Call for Action
Despite gains, ableism—systemic discrimination against people with disabilities—remains entrenched. Barriers to education, employment, healthcare, and independent living persist, whether they are legal, structural, or attitudinal.
Disability Pride Month reminds us that dignity and belonging are not conditions to be met, but rights to be affirmed. This is a month both for celebration and for renewed activism—pushing for equal access, amplifying disabled voices, and ensuring that individuals are never forced to “overcome” or “hide” their disabilities in order to be valued by their communities.
Disability Pride in New York City and Beyond
New York City, with its vast and varied population, is both a stage for the challenges and triumphs of disability pride. Each July, community events fill Union Square, the New York Public Library, and parks citywide, featuring everything from book tastings to inclusive games—powerful reminders that community belongs to everyone.
Cultural institutions, advocacy groups, city agencies, and residents collaborate to make spaces accessible and to propel conversations forward. Meanwhile, national events—from virtual meetups to in-person parades—invite all Americans to celebrate, advocate, and imagine a future where belonging is unconditional.
A Culture of Belonging: Stories That Change Hearts and Minds
Disability Pride Month creates space for stories: memories of legal breakthroughs, ongoing fights for access, and daily experiences of delight, struggle, or ordinary living.
As much as it is about policy and protest, it is equally about joy: in art, friendship, and self-expression. By foregrounding these truths, the movement insists that disability must never be a cause for shame or apology, but an identity to be lived proud and openly.
The Work Continues: A Challenge for Every American
July’s Disability Pride Month is both a celebration and an urgent challenge. This year’s theme—“We Belong Here, and We’re Here to Stay”—reminds everyone that participation is not conditional, that respect and full access are not negotiable.
It calls on every person, organization, and institution to recognize disability rights as human rights. To achieve real inclusion, we must examine and uproot our own biases, transform public policy, and make communities accessible, welcoming, and supportive for all.
It is an invitation to all to examine their workplaces, neighborhoods, and civic life: Are there voices missing? Barriers unaddressed? July is the time to learn, listen, act, and make belonging real in every sphere of life.
Disability Pride Month Lifts Voices, Challenges Bias, Builds Belonging (July 19, 2025)
75-Word Audio Summary
Disability Pride Month, observed each July, celebrates the achievements, history, and culture of people with disabilities, while challenging ongoing discrimination and exclusion. The month commemorates the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act, affirms the importance of visible and invisible disabilities, and urges all Americans to build accessible, welcoming communities. This year’s theme, “We Belong Here, and We’re Here to Stay,” is a bold call to action for true belonging and equality.
#DisabilityPrideMonth #ADAAnniversary #InclusionMatters #PrideInDiversity #NothingAboutUsWithoutUs
#NYCDisabilityPride #WeBelongHere #AccessibilityForAll #DisabilityAdvocacy #CelebratingDisability
TAGS: disability pride, Americans with Disabilities Act, diversity, disability rights,
inclusion, New York City, advocacy, access, disability flag, human rights,
accessibility, community events, belonging, ableism, disability activism
- The Story of Disability Pride Month (2023): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKJKdm4mass
- Understanding the Disability Pride Flag (Disability Together): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCZtPteXwNI
