Disability Pride Month

Disability Pride month celebrates the history, accomplishments, contributions, and lived experiences of people with disabilities. It serves as a time to reaffirm that disability is a natural and valuable part of human diversity, not a deficit or condition to be fixed. It encourages people to take Pride in who they are and to embrace their identities with confidence and strength. It also serves as a reminder to challenge societal barriers and promote acceptance and self-determination.

Disability Pride Month is celebrated every year in July as it commemorates the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) that occurred in July 1990. This act prohibited any discrimination based on disability in all areas of public life, aiming to ensure equal opportunity for all people (The Disability & Philanthropy Forum. Although the ADA applies directly to the United States of America, it also played a role in influencing Canadian legislation regarding accessibility. In 2019, Canada passed the Accessible Canada Act, which aims to make all of Canada barrier-free by 2040 (Government of Canada, 2023)

Each year, there is a different theme that is highlighted throughout the month. This year’s theme is We Belong Here, and We’re Here to Stay, extending a powerful message of visibility, inclusion, and resilience within the disability community (the Arc, 2025). It is a call to action as disability rights face growing threats, as barriers and discrimination continue to exist in our society.

Disability Pride is important to United Way because it aligns directly with our commitment to equity, inclusion, and building stronger communities where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. Some of our funded partners who work to serve and make a difference in the lives of people with disability include: KW AccessAbility, DeafBlind Ontario, and Extend a Family.