Every July, we celebrate Disability Pride Month to honour the history, culture, and contributions of the disability community. The celebration traces its roots to 1990, when the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law. This landmark legislation was a hard-won victory in the fight for civil rights, accessibility and inclusion. Since then, Disability Pride has evolved far beyond policy. It has become a powerful movement—one that confronts stigma and reclaims disability identity with pride.
For too long, disability has been framed through the lens of limitation: something to be fixed, pitied, or overcome. Disability Pride flips that narrative. It is not about inspiration or sympathy. It’s saying, “We belong— not in spite of our disabilities, but with them.” It affirms that disability is not a flaw, but a vital part of human diversity. And in a world that often devalues it, to be proud of a disabled identity is a radical act of resistance. It challenges ableism at its core and reclaims space that has too often excluded them.
Disability Pride offers a vision for the kind of world we are working to build. A world where accessibility is the standard, where disabled leadership is expected, and where interdependence is valued. Disability Pride is a call to action for systems, institutions, and individuals to move beyond performative inclusion, toward real, structural change.
At ABLE2, we believe real inclusion demands more than policy statements and good intentions. It requires action that is informed by people with lived experience. That is why we ensure people with disabilities are meaningfully involved in shaping our programs, services, and strategy. From our Board of Directors to advisory committees and event planning teams, their voices are not just included but are leading the conversations.
We put this commitment into action through all our programs and services that are built with inclusion at their core. For instance, the Matching Program combats social isolation by fostering genuine one-to-one friendships between people with disabilities and community volunteers— relationships rooted in mutual respect and belonging. Through the Reach Legal Referral Services, we ensure that individuals with disabilities can access justice and assert their rights.
Inclusion is our operating principle. Every program, policy, and conversation begins with a question: How are we building an inclusive community where every person is seen as able, important, and valued? Because without intentional action, inclusion remains a promise unfulfilled.
You too can have a hand in building a more inclusive world. Here are a few ways to take meaningful action:
- Support disability-led initiatives. Invest your time, resources, and platforms in organizations run by and for people with disabilities.
- Educate yourself. It’s not the job of people with disabilities to educate everyone. Take initiative to read books, watch documentaries, and follow disability advocates online.
- Audit your spaces. Identify inaccessible practices and methods in your workplace or community, whether it’s physical, digital or cultural. Who is left out and why? Actively advocate for change.
- Speak up against ableism. Silence can be complicity. If you hear ableist jokes or see discriminatory behaviour, speak up respectfully, even when it’s uncomfortable.
- Amplify voices. Listen and ensure that people with disabilities are not only invited to the table, but empowered to shape the conversation.
Being an ally requires humility, listening, and a commitment to equity. You will not always get it right, but staying open to feedback and continuing to learn is what makes you a true ally.
As efforts around Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) continue to be threatened, it’s more important than ever to hold the line. Disability Pride matters because inclusion is not a trend. It is a human right. The fight is far from over, but we are not waiting for permission to be proud. The disability community is here, leading, creating, and thriving.
This Disability Pride Month, let us move beyond all the talk and commit to action. How will you show up for the disability community?
Published by
Experienced Non-Profit Executive Director