Disability Pride Month is Here!!

It's July!! You already know what that means or do you?

Hey guys!!

It’s July, and you know what that means—Disability Pride Month is finally here! 🎉

We’ve been celebrating disability pride and joy all year—learning new things, growing our awareness of disability rights, advocacy, history, and community. But this month is extra special. It’s a time when we can turn up the volume on our voices, stand proudly in our identities, and celebrate ourselves fully, not despite our disabilities, but with them.

We live our lives with pride and joy every single day, but in July, we get the chance to do it show even more disabled pride.

According to The Arc,
“Disability Pride Month is an annual observance in July that celebrates people with disabilities, commemorates the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and promotes disability culture and visibility… This month challenges the harmful idea that people with disabilities need to conform to norms to live meaningful lives. Their lives are just as full, valuable, and worthy of respect no more, no less.”

Disability Pride Month means so much to me. It’s a celebration of our strength, resilience, and power. It’s about taking up space, telling our own stories, and being visible in a world that often tries to overlook us. It’s about showing the world that disabled people belong everywhere—in classrooms, in boardrooms, in Congress, in the arts, in science, and beyond.

We’re not “special needs.” We’re people with thoughts, ideas, feelings, and futures.

My name is Jasmine Fleming, and I’m the Founder of Enable Everything. I have Cerebral Palsy, a condition that affects movement, balance, and coordination. I was diagnosed when I was 2 years old. At the time, my parents didn’t fully understand what Cerebral Palsy was, but they were determined to learn. They researched everything they could, connected with support groups, and found early intervention services that helped me get the therapies I needed. I couldn’t sit up on my own until I was almost 4 years old, but thanks to years of hard work and support, I eventually did it.

From a very young age, I was vocal about what I needed. I remember being just 4 years old and telling my mom, “I’m bored,” at the special education school I was attending. That moment sparked a big change—my parents began advocating for me to attend our local public school district. They are the people who first taught me the importance of advocacy and self-belief. They are my role models.

When I first rolled into kindergarten, I was so excited. I loved to learn. I was curious, bright-eyed, and ready for something new. Over time, my teachers challenged me, and I grew from being in a self-contained classroom to taking Honors and AP courses by high school. Education became my freedom.

My parents always encouraged my little brother and I to chase our dreams and take education seriously. They played a huge role in shaping who I am. My dad always told me, “You have a beautiful mind. Use it. Grow it. Expand it. Nobody can take that away from you.” My mom reminded me never to be ashamed of my disability—to embrace every part of myself and know that I am capable of anything.

That doesn’t mean things were always easy. Like many disabled kids, I struggled with feeling self-conscious—especially when some kids stared at me in the hallway, anywhere I went, with their mouths hanging wide open or some adults talked over me like I wasn’t even there. Some even patted me on the head or hugged me in public without asking. That made me feel “othered,” like I didn’t belong. Who wouldn’t be self conscious when that happens? But over time, I learned that there is nothing wrong with me. I’m not broken. I’m not a burden. I’m not a tragedy. I’m a full, complex person, and I deserve to take up space.

High school brought some amazing memories. I had an incredible aide for 7 years, and I made real friends who saw me for me. Then came one of the biggest milestones of my life: getting my Tobii Dynavox—an eye-gaze communication device. It gave me a level of independence I had never experienced before. I could finally do my homework, text my friends, and watch YouTube videos by myself.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, I had the opportunity to attend the ACLU Summer Institute at age 15. That experience was a turning point. I learned about the U.S. government, the First Amendment, LGBTQ+ rights, racial justice, and disability rights. I made new friends who were passionate about advocacy, too, and I found my voice. That same year, the Netflix documentary Crip Camp came out. Watching it was like seeing my purpose unfold on screen. I learned about trailblazers like Judy Heumann, Jim LeBrecht, and the fight for the ADA. I realized that advocacy is a way for me to use my voice and my story for something bigger than myself. I used to dream about designing games for disabled kids. Now, I want to shape policy and make changes in the government.

Later that year, I was accepted into a college enrichment program that made me realize I could thrive at a 4-year college instead of community college, which had been my original plan. I told my parents I wanted to go to a 4-year college, and they were 100% behind me. That summer, I toured campuses—Seton Hall and The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) stood out. When I first rolled onto TCNJ’s campus, I fell in love. I could see myself there—books on the back of my chair, studying in the library, hanging out in the student center. It felt like home.

I worked hard on my college applications and wrote about how my Tobii changed my life. The day I got into Seton Hall, my entire family screamed, cried, and hugged me. And then… I got into TCNJ! I knew that’s where I wanted to be. I started in Fall 2022 as a Political Science major, and I haven’t looked back since.I’ve loved every minute of it, making friends, diving into government classes, and continuing to learn how to advocate for people.

Here are some tips for everyone for disabled people, allies, teachers, classmates, friends, and community members who want to help make the world more inclusive:

1. Listen to disabled people. Follow, read, and uplift disabled voices—not just during July, but all year.

2. Learn about disability history. Study the ADA, the disability rights movement, and key activists like Judy Heumann and Ed Roberts.

3. Unlearn ableism. Don’t make assumptions about what disabled people can and can’t do.

4. Respect all forms of communication. Whether someone uses speech, a device, sign language, or gestures, every voice matters!

5. Make spaces more accessible. Think about physical access, captions, sensory needs, and inclusive design.

6. Celebrate disabled joy. Disability is more than struggle—it’s also culture, creativity, humor, and pride.

7. Ask, don’t assume. If you’re unsure how to support someone, just ask respectfully.

8. Speak up when you see inaccessibility. Use your voice to advocate, even when it’s uncomfortable.

9. Include disabled people in everything. In conversations, leadership, education, and decisions that affect us.

10. Read books with disabled characters. It’s a great way to understand different disabilities and learn more about the disability community.

To celebrate Disability Pride Month, I’m launching a Disability Pride Campaign this July to highlight disabled voices, stories, experiences, and leadership. Whether you’re disabled, an ally, or someone who cares deeply about inclusion, you’re invited to participate! You can share a quote, contribute your story, help spotlight others, or support behind the scenes.

If you’d like to get involved, please sign up here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1gjUqCvlwMBorKCr0CykketS0TrVRDehv99mV348XE7Q/edit. Everyone is welcome to join in!

Disability Pride Month isn’t just a hashtag; it’s a movement. A mindset. A celebration. This month reminds us that disabled people are valuable and vibrant, not just in July, but all year long. I’m proud of how far I’ve come, and I’m proud to be part of a community that fights for inclusion, justice, and joy.

Thanks for reading—and Happy Disability Pride Month! ♿🌈💚 Let’s keep telling our stories. Let’s keep building a world that works for everyone.

Love, Enable Everything

Source:

1. https://thearc.org/blog/why-and-how-to-celebrate-disability-pride-month/