Disability Pride Month: How to Be an Ally

July is Disability Pride Month, a time to celebrate, honor, and uplift the disability community.  Celebrating in conjunction with the anniversary of the signing for the Americans with Disability Act (ADA), Disability Pride Month offers the abled community an opportunity to pause, reflect, and assert allyship for people with disabilities. 

Below are some suggestions for ways to celebrate this important month. 

Learn the History

Nonotuck has crafted monthly videos highlighting important dates in disability rights history.

This Month in Disability Rights History: March 2025

This Month in Disability Rights History: April 2025

This Month in Disability Rights History: May 2025

This Month in Disability Rights History: June 2025

This Month in Disability Rights History: July 2025

We recently highlighted the important Supreme Court decision Olmstead V. L.C., which affirms the legal right for people with disabilities to live, grow, and participate fully in a community (rather than in institutions).

Learn about the life of Judy Heumann, who passed in 2023, leaving behind an impeccable legacy of disability rights activism.

You can also learn about the history of the Disability Pride flag, a collaborative effort for accessibility in art. 

Understand the Present

Learning begins by centering the voices of people with lived experience. Follow these powerful advocates:

🔹 Alice Wong (@disability_visibility) – Founder of the Disability Visibility Project and author of Disability Visibility.
Visit her site ➔ Disability Visibility Project

🔹 Keah Brown (@Keah_Maria) – Writer and creator of #DisabledAndCute, celebrating joy in disability.
Read her work ➔ Keah Brown’s website

🔹 Imani Barbarin (@Imani_Barbarin) – Disability rights communicator, known for brilliant insights on policy and media representation.
Follow ➔ Imani’s TikTok

🔹 Lydia X. Z. Brown (@autistichoya) – Lawyer, writer, and advocate focused on disability justice and intersectionality.
Learn more ➔ Autistic Hoya

🔹 Rebekah Taussig (@sitting_pretty) – Author of Sitting Pretty, offering everyday reflections on ableism and access.
Explore ➔ Rebekah’s Instagram

Use Respectful Language

When communicating about disability, the words we choose matter. Language can either reinforce harmful stereotypes or promote dignity, agency, and equality. Using respectful language shows that we value people for who they are and recognize that disability is an aspect of human diversity, not something to be ashamed of or “overcome.” Here are some key reminders:

• Always ask people how they identify.
  Why? Individual preference matters, and respectful language is not one-size-fits-all.
  
• Use “wheelchair user” instead of “wheelchair-bound.”
  Why? “Wheelchair-bound” implies confinement, whereas “wheelchair user” acknowledges mobility, autonomy, and independence.
  
• Use “disabled person” if they prefer identity-first language.
  Why? Many in the disability community embrace identity-first language, while others prefer person-first (“person with a disability”). Always ask for their preference.
  
• Avoid phrases like “overcoming disability.”
  Why? This frames disability as something inherently negative to defeat, rather than recognizing that societal barriers are what truly disable people.
  
• Avoid euphemisms such as “differently abled” or “special needs.”
  Why? These terms may feel patronizing and can obscure systemic barriers that need addressing.
  
• Use clear, direct language.
  Why? Terms like “handi-capable” can be dismissive. Plain, direct language respects people’s identities and experiences.
  

Focus on accessibility rather than inspiration.
Why? Avoid describing disabled people as “inspirational” for living their lives, which is known as “inspiration porn” and can be demeaning.