By Yasmina Saba
Disability Pride Month, observed every July, is a time to celebrate identity, visibility, and progress within the disability community. While July also includes observances like Independence Day, National Transplant Week, and Cultural Communities Week, Disability Pride Month holds unique personal significance. It’s a bold celebration of identity and resilience. Here are five powerful reasons to celebrate this month.
1. Disability Pride Month Celebrates Identity and Acceptance
Disability Pride Month encourages people with disabilities to embrace their identity without shame. For me, living with cerebral palsy has shaped who I am. The obstacles I’ve faced — and overcome — have helped build my resilience and strength.
There are moments when I ask, “Why me?” But July reminds me, “Why not me?” Disability can happen to anyone at any time. Instead of seeing it as something to hide, Disability Pride Month helps us see it as something to honor.
2. Disability Pride Month Breaks Stigmas
Social media has given the disability community a voice — one that is loud, proud, and authentic. A perfect example is the account run by Jay and Joana. Joana, a mother with cerebral palsy, shares her journey as a disabled parent. When I found her content, it showed me that becoming a mother with a disability is not only possible — it’s something to be proud of.
And Joana isn’t alone. Comedians like Maysoon Zayid and Zach Anner are using humor to dismantle ableist assumptions, while fashion model Aariana Rose Philip is redefining what beauty and power look like on the runway. From parenting and lifestyle content to advocacy and artistry, these voices are proof that disability is not something to hide — it’s something to celebrate.
Much like LGBTQ+ Pride Month, Disability Pride Month sparks a surge in visibility every July, when creators proudly share their experiences, joys, and challenges. This visibility doesn’t just change minds — it changes lives.
3. Disability Pride Month Raises Awareness
July is the month to celebrate the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and acknowledge the progress we have made in the more than three decades since it was passed. However, July is also a time to recognize and raise awareness for how much farther we can go. An example is improving building accessibility and parking. It’s terrific that all government buildings must be accessible; however, it would be great if all buildings were accessible with automatic doors, regardless of whether they are government buildings or not.
It’s excellent that there is parking for those with proper signage in their cars; however, at times, I question whether the people designating the handicap spots considered the distance to the establishment’s door.
4. Disability Pride Month Empowers the Disability Community
The disability community is strong; we have learned to rely on one another for support. Disability Pride Month brings an elevated sense of empowerment in the disability community — it’s almost as if we have a superpower, vanquishing all negativity and helping to grow one another’s confidence.
I see this question pop up in my online support groups: What makes us proud to have our disability? My answer is overcoming the obstacles that no one — not even me — thought I could.
5. Disability Pride Month Honors the Disability Rights Movement
We cannot speak about Disability Pride Month without honoring those who played a significant role in the disability rights movement and helped us achieve the ADA, which was signed on July 26, 1990. Some people we have to thank are Ed Roberts, who dedicated his life to the Independent Living Movement and was the first person with a significant disability to graduate from UC Berkeley. Later, he landed a job with the Department of Rehabilitation Services, an organization that once told him he was too disabled to work.
We cannot speak about Ed without also mentioning the mother of the Disability Rights Movement, Judy Heumann, best known for organizing the historical 1977 Section 504 sit-in. There are several other notable figures that I have not mentioned who helped create the visibility and awareness that led to progress. We owe the signing of the ADA to their tireless efforts to raise awareness within the disability community.
For the disability community, July is not just another month. It is a statement that members of the disability community deserve to live with dignity, have the full ability to make their own decisions, and participate in society. We are on the right path, but there is a long road ahead to reach full inclusion and acceptance.
About the Author
Yasmina Saba is a dedicated marketing volunteer with UCP, bringing her passion for storytelling and community engagement to the team. With a background in communications, marketing, and nonprofit outreach, she has experience in content creation, social media strategy, and persuasive communication. As someone with cerebral palsy, she is deeply committed to accessibility, advocacy, and independence. Through her contributions, Yasmina hopes to educate the UCP community about what it’s like living with a disability, foster connections with others facing similar challenges, and share valuable insights that empower and uplift. Beyond her volunteer work, Yasmina enjoys traveling, diamond painting, and movies — creative outlets that inspire her.
