Disability Pride Month, which occurs every July, is an opportunity to celebrate and honor the lives, accomplishments, and experiences of those belonging to the disability community. The occurrence of this commemoration with the month of July proceeds from the historic legislation signed into law by President George H.W. Bush on July 26, 1990: the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This legislation itself resulted, though, from many years of effort and collaboration among persons with disabilities, representatives and their staff on Capitol Hill, as well as civil servants working in federal agencies. A good outline of that legislation’s history is available at the ADA 2024 website, where the “In Their Own Words” series brings together narratives and audio-visual testimonies about the process through which the legislation came before Congress and the President. Though Disability Pride Month remains to be recognized by the federal government, it has gained momentum through the last thirty-four years and is celebrated in many cities and states throughout the United States.
There are many ways to become more informed about the experiences of persons with disabilities and to appreciate their contributions to our society. One way, of course, is to read titles available here at the library: booklists for adult fiction and adult nonfiction as well as for teens and children are maintained by library staff, so that they remain current. Beyond the library one can find a number of excellent resources through the American Library Association’s “Programming Librarian” website, where the “Disability Pride Month Resource Round-up” provides a very strong section on Teaching Resources, or through “Virtual Bookshelf” for Disability Pride Month shared by the National Endowment for the Humanities. Through the gathering of resources such as these, Disability Pride Month offers an opportunity for all of us to focus our attention on the value and dignity of the lives of persons with disabilities and to grow in our sympathy and respect for one another.
Photo credit: Nobodysystem