Each year in July, we celebrate Disability Pride Month in honor of the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26, 1990. The ADA significantly improved the rights of people with disabilities across America and is considered a landmark piece of legislation for the disability community. Since its passing, we have seen significant progress in the rights and acceptance of people with disabilities.

Disability Pride Month honors the unique identities and resilience of the disability community. Despite the passing of the ADA, many Americans with disabilities face ongoing discrimination. Disability Pride Month is an opportunity to amplify the voices of people with disabilities and get involved in advocacy efforts. JJ’s List is proud to participate in this work to improve the acceptance of people with disabilities through advocacy, employment and community inclusion

The 2024 theme is “We Want a Life Like Yours,” reflecting the disability community’s dreams for life experiences that are too often denied (if interested, read more from The Arc’s blog). There can

be a stigma for people with disabilities, where their life goals and dreams are not uplifted or acknowledged. It’s important to recognize this stigma and create opportunities every day to celebrate people’s hopes and dreams.

How can you get involved this month? Here are a few suggestions:

1. Listen to the stories of people with disabilities this month to build bridges and break down stigmas. People with disabilities have important insights into how we can make the world a better place and life experiences. The Arc’s story hub and Search’s news articles are two great resources for reading more stories. Search recently shared a Disability Pride Month article that you can read here.
2. Host a Disability Awareness Training to educate your business on incorporating disability-aware language and practices into everyday life. These trainings are incredibly impactful as they offer all businesses and attendees practical advice on becoming confident when interacting with people with disabilities. Hosting training can foster an inclusive environment in your business and your employees’ communities. You can request more information on training here.
3. Sharing resources with your network is a powerful way to raise awareness and further uplift the voices of people with disabilities. You are actively promoting acceptance by talking to people in your life about the importance of this month. Search has also posted our Disability Pride Month article on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. We encourage you to share it and be part of this collective effort!

Staying connected with JJ’s List and Search year-round is crucial to staying involved in ongoing advocacy efforts and learning more about the lives of people with disabilities. Your commitment and dedication to creating a more inclusive world are greatly appreciated. Thank you for supporting our work and your continued engagement in this cause!