Disability & Advocacy: Disability Pride Month& Disability History

Welcome to Disability Pride Month.

For me, this month is about more than awareness. It is about history, progress, community, and pride.

As someone who was born with a disability, I know that many of the opportunities and freedoms I have today exist because of the people who came before me and fought for change.

One of the most important moments in disability history came on July 26, 1990, when President George H. W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) into law.

The ADA opened the door to a new chapter for the disability community.

It helped create easier access to public places and greater opportunities for people with disabilities to participate fully in society.

Because of the ADA, accessibility became something that had to be considered in public spaces such as buildings, businesses, transportation services, schools, parks, restaurants, stores, and so much more.

The law did not solve every challenge overnight, and there is still work left to do, but it changed the conversation and helped move our community forward.

This month, I want to celebrate not only how far we have come, but also the people who made that progress possible.

I want to celebrate our stories.

Our voices.

Our challenges.

Our victories.

And our pride.

Throughout July, I will be sharing reflections on disability history, identity, advocacy, and what disability pride means to me as a woman living with cerebral palsy.

Because disability is not something to hide.

It is part of our story.

And our stories deserve to be told.

Happy Disability Pride Month.

— Marie W.O.W.C.P.
Seeing the Beauty Between the Challenges 💛