7/15/25 - Ways of thinking about "Disability Pride"

Hello!

Every July, at least for the last ten years or so, those of us who spend time thinking, talking, and writing about disability try again to define what disability pride means for disabled people, and what "Disability Pride Month" is for.

It's always difficult to figure these things out, even in a good year. This year I find it extra hard to muster up the mental energy to think much at all about "Disability Pride Month." So I'm especially glad that this newsletter doesn't really require me to present a fully-developed view of my own. Instead, I can share what others think. So, today's articles explore "Disability Pride Month" from three different perspectives, using three different article formats.

Then and Now: Disability Across Generations

Emily Ladau and Kim Knackstedt, Words I Wheel By - July 14, 2025

"I feel like Gen Alpha has the potential to reshape and change the future. Gen-Z has started down that path and Gen Alpha can take us there. Both of the generations younger than us will have more political power than other generations. They have access to technology and the chance to actually learn about history many of us didn’t due to limited information in textbooks. I challenge this generation to be open—yes, critique what went wrong but learn from mistakes of past generations and build a larger tent. Create a vision for the future that brings more in rather than excludes."

This is a conversation between two disabled people from different generations. Emily and Kim use the familiar generational timeline – Boomers, Xers, Millennials, Gen Z, and Gen Alpha – to think about how the idea of disability as a social identity has developed over the last several decades. It's interesting to see how we tend to progress from a reluctance to embrace disability and be proud to fight for our needs and goals, to a more positive, assertive, and proud stance as disabled people. And this seems to be the most common trajectory both for individual disabled people, and for disability communities as a whole. The relatively recent emergence of "Disability Pride Month" as a regular event seems to reflect this trend.

Disability Pride Month: ‘Recognizing that disability is a natural and valuable part of human diversity’

United Spinal Updates, United Spinal Association - July 9, 2025

"Disability Pride Month is observed in July each year and commemorates the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26, 1990 ... This month celebrates the achievements, experiences, and challenges faced by the disability community. It also raises awareness about disability rights and promotes inclusion and accessibility for all ... Wheelchair users reflect on the impact and importance of Disability Pride Month."

Here, United Spinal offers a basic explanation of what "Disability Pride Month is, using fairly standard language you might find in any piece on the subject. But then they turn to some of the wheelchair users who are the organization's focus for their personal perspectives on disability pride itself. Pairing each person's quote with an Instagram post is a nice touch. A few more quotes and posts from more wheelchair users would have been nice – maybe with a bit more diversity. But the variety of perspectives and moods expressed was good to see. Disabled people's thoughts about disability pride are neither blandly positive nor oppressively gloomy.

How to celebrate Disability Pride Month and the ADA's 35th anniversary

Jordan Young, NBC 4 Washington - July 10, 2025

"Disability Pride is celebrated every July to honor the achievements of the disability community and shine a light on ableism and other struggles faced by the community ... As the disability rights movement continues to push forward, here are some inclusive and accessible ideas for how to celebrate the historic milestone."

This local news piece from the Washington, DC area has a distinctly different purpose. Its job is mainly to introduce "Disability Pride Month" to a primarily non-disabled audience. They focus mainly on the history of how the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed, especially the events around it that took place in DC. The list of local "Disability Pride Month" events is meant to be helpful to people in the area who want to do something to make the occasion. But it's also interesting to read the variety of cultural events and activities, to see what kinds of ideas organizers are coming up with for this.

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