Disability Pride Month Series

Our Beautiful Challenges — Marie

One of the reasons I wanted to create a Disability Pride Month series was because I realized that many people—even people within the disability community—don’t know some of the history that shaped our lives today.

I know I didn’t.

Not long ago, I learned about something called the Ugly Laws, and I couldn’t stop thinking about them.

How had I gone my entire life without hearing about them?

The Ugly Laws were local laws passed in the late 1800s in several cities across the United States. They allowed communities to fine or remove people who were considered “unsightly” because of disabilities, illnesses, or visible differences from appearing in public.

Think about that for a moment.

People with disabilities weren’t just excluded.

They were told they didn’t belong in public at all.

One of the best-known examples was in San Francisco, where a law made it illegal for people who were considered “unsightly” to appear on public streets.

Today, those laws are gone.

But learning about them reminded me how important it is to know where we’ve come from.

As someone who was born with cerebral palsy, I grew up during a different time in disability history.

I was born after Section 504 had been passed but before the Americans with Disabilities Act became law.

Even though the Ugly Laws no longer existed, I still experienced a world that often wasn’t built for people like me.

Growing up, my school district struggled to understand how to include me. They had to learn how to adapt, and many times I felt like I was the one teaching people what inclusion should look like.

Now, decades later, I still find myself advocating.

I live independently in an apartment building that wasn’t truly designed for someone with my disability.

People often assume that if a building is ADA compliant, it works for everyone with a disability.

But disability is not one-size-fits-all.

I don’t use a wheelchair, so I don’t need lower kitchen cabinets.

What I do need is a walk-in shower that I can safely use.

Accessibility looks different for every person.

That’s why conversations about disability still matter.

The Ugly Laws may be history, but they remind us of something important.

Changing a law doesn’t automatically change attitudes.

Real inclusion happens when people are willing to listen, learn, and understand that disability is part of human diversity—not something to hide or fear.

Disability Pride Month isn’t only about celebrating how far we’ve come.

It’s also about remembering the people who came before us.

The people who were excluded.

The people who fought to be seen.

The people who challenged society to believe that disability does not make someone less worthy.

Because of their courage, I can live independently.

I can advocate.

I can write my story.

And I can proudly say that disability is not something to be ashamed of.

It’s part of who I am.

The Ugly Laws remind us where we once were.

Section 504 and the ADA remind us how far we’ve come.

And our voices remind us that there is still more work to do.

That is why Disability Pride Month matters.

Because history should never be forgotten—and progress should never stop.