Pride month just wrapped, with historic pride celebrations for the LGBTQIA+ community. July doesn’t mean the end of Pride celebrations.
July 26 will mark 36 years since the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law by then-President George H.W. Bush.
What Is The ADA?
The ADA was signed into law to prevent discrimination against those with disabilities. This includes government services, transportation, employment, and other accommodations to ensure equal accessibility for all. The ADA defines a disability as “a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities….”
One of the most historically significant protests in support of ADA’s passage was the Capitol Crawl. On March 12, 1990, more than 500 disability rights activists marched from the White House to the west side of the U.S. Capitol. Then all activists abandoned their mobility aids—wheelchairs, canes, crutches, and more—and crawled up the 83 stone steps to encourage Congress to pass the ADA. This also highlighted how common inaccessible architecture is in the U.S. and the safety concerns it poses for people with disabilities.
Disability Pride Month
Disability Pride Month was officially recognized in 2015, in response to the 25th anniversary of the ADA. The first-ever Disability Pride parade took place in Boston in 1990 after the ADA was signed into law.
Although there are laws protecting those with disabilities, there are still cases of ableism and discrimination. Author and Illustrator Paul Castle, who is blind, phrased the variety of struggles perfectly: “…all disabilities are a spectrum.”
The Curb Cut Effect
A topic circulating in disability discourse online is the curb cut effect, a phenomenon in which design intended for specific people proves useful to a larger group of people than originally intended.
A defining example of this phenomenon is curb cuts, where sidewalk pavement dips to make crossing streets simple for those with mobility aids (i.e., wheelchairs, walkers, etc.). Curb cuts became unintentionally useful for people beyond those with physical disabilities. Easy maneuvering from the road to sidewalks is accessible for parents with strollers, bicyclists, people with rolling suitcases, and more.
Why Disability Pride Is Important
Although the ADA is a historic staple in U.S. legislation, few lawmakers have effectively acknowledged the month-long celebration.
Disability pride doesn’t just mean lifting the voices and experiences of people with disabilities but teaching and encouraging effective allyship. This means effective support from people without disabilities.
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