July is Disability Pride Month, But is 'Pride the Right Word?' My Perspective on Disability and Strength

 "JULY IS DISABILITY PRIDE MONTH," the subject line boldly announced in my inbox today.

Yes, it’s July. And yes, I do identify as a person with a disability. But honestly, “pride” isn’t the word I would instinctively use to describe my experience of living with a disability.

To me, it feels more like being a contestant on a real-life, never-ending episode of American Ninja Warrior. Each day presents its own obstacle course, and anyone navigating life with a disability deserves recognition simply for making it through.

Curious to better understand Disability Pride Month, I turned to Google—and found plenty. The flag, often seen with diagonal rainbow stripes across a black background, sometimes includes a wheelchair symbol. It’s clear this movement is real, with its own identity and symbolism.

Wanting to make sense of the word “pride,” I looked it up in the dictionary. The first definition—“a feeling of deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one’s own achievements”—didn’t quite fit how I felt. But the second—“consciousness of one’s own dignity”—resonated with me. That definition reflects the quiet strength, resilience, and self-respect many of us cultivate while living with a disability.

July was chosen as Disability Pride Month because it marks the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), signed into law in July 1990 by President George H. W. Bush. This groundbreaking legislation was a major step toward protecting the rights of people with disabilities and prohibiting discrimination.

I am deeply grateful for the ADA. It opened doors—both literally and figuratively—by requiring greater accessibility in public spaces. Today, accessible parking is more common, and elevators and ramps make it possible for those using mobility devices to participate more fully in everyday life.

As many of my friends have begun to age, I find I have more company in the “living with a disability” group. Whether disabilities are lifelong or acquired later, they touch more lives than we often realize. That’s why it’s so important that we work together to make a lasting difference. Let’s use our voices, our experiences, and our growing numbers to advocate for greater accessibility, understanding, and inclusion—not just for ourselves, but for all those living with disabilities now and in the future.