Disability Pride Month
Beginning in July 2004, Disability Pride Month celebrates the passing of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), which passed in July 1990, as well as the lives, histories, and achievements of people with disabilities worldwide. Governor Tim Walz officially declared Minnesota’s recognition of the month in 2022, and there are events to celebrate the month all over the world and online.
If you’ve attended the “Abelism and Disability Justice” course offered by the Office for Equity & Diversity Education, then you’ve seen a video of the dramatic and effective protest known as “The Capitol Crawl,” where disability advocates climbed the steps of the US Capitol by any means necessary to show the need for equitable and accessible accommodations. A recent oral history of the Crawl provides background and details from those that attended.
Although the ADA has led to immense improvements, the struggle for disability justice continues. For example, this summer in Minnesota, thousands of families will visit our state parks and hike along their trails. But most of these trails are inaccessible to people with reduced mobility. Last year, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) introduced a track chair pilot program to five of its parks—a step towards making our parks available to people of every ability.
Know of other resources for celebrating Disability Pride? Please share them with the ASR DEI Community of Practice Group (ASR DEI CoP). Not a member? See below!
Join our DEI Community of Practice
Subscribe to our DEI Google Group to discuss the latest news, connect with the committee, and keep up with DEI initiatives. More information about the group and DEI committee can be found on the ASR Intranet.
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