This July, CRIO is happy to be celebrating Disability Pride Month, which allows us time to reflect on the progress made throughout the years by the disabled community, as well as the everyday struggles it still faces in the United States and around the world. In fact, people with disabilities make up 15% of the world’s population representing all ages, races, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, religions, and socio-economic backgrounds, making it important to highlight the past, present, and future of people with disabilities everywhere.
Disability Pride Month actually used to only be a day-long celebration, as it is aimed to commemorate the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26, 1990. This act, signed into law by President George H.W. Bush, specifies the rights of those living with disabilities. These rights include, but are not limited to, equal employment opportunities, use of service animals, equal voting rights, access to child care, and effective communication from state and local governments and businesses. These freedoms allow people with disabilities living in the United States to strive towards equality in all aspects of life. To learn more about the Americans with Disabilities Act, please visit https://www.ada.gov/.
The goals of Disability Pride Month are not only to celebrate the achievements and contributions of people with disabilities, but also to raise awareness and promote accessibility for all. There are several ways to accomplish these goals – one suggestion being to connect with people with disabilities in your community, which allows a unique understanding of any needs lacking, perhaps in our very own field of clinical research. Furthermore, you can email elected officials to express the importance of protecting the rights of the disabled community, as well pushing back on harmful language heard in day-to-day life. Together, we can stand united and protect people with disabilities not only this month, but every day going forward.