Writer: Lily Robinson, MSW Intern
Regarding language: throughout this post, both person-first and identity-first language are used to refer to people with disabilities. This is with the intention of honoring disabled voices. Person-first language, such as “person with disabilities” is most affirming for some while identity-first language, such as “disabled person” is most affirming to others. Self-identification is a deeply personal and ever-evolving journey which WCGL wishes to respect.
Happy Pride Month… but wait it’s July?! 
July is Disability Pride Month! Every year, the disabled community and allies celebrate that each person is uniquely beautiful, honor the things that make us different, and advocate for a more just world for all people. We celebrate in July to commemorate the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990 (Coates, 2025).
ADA was a landmark civil rights case that outlawed ability-based discrimination after a years-long organized movement by disabled activists. It protects people with disabilities at work, school, transportation, and other publicly open spaces and guarantees equal rights and opportunities to disabled people as nondisabled people (ADA National Network, 2026). In hindsight, it seems only fair that disabled people receive the same protections, but until ADA, disabled folks had to fight for these rights– and many of these fights were, unfortunately, lost.
Before ADA, children with disabilities could be forced to attend segregated schools. Unlike today, they were not entitled to a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) with an individualized education plan (IEP) (Howard University School of Law, 2026). Any business, including real estate, could refuse services to people with disabilities because of their disability and employers could reject all disabled applicants without even giving them an interview (Braille Works, 2018). While ADA marked a monumental shift in access to vital resources for disabled people, the fight for equity is not yet over. Even though equal rights and opportunities are mandated by law, many public entities still treat accommodation as an optional service. For this reason, Disability Pride Month is a call to action to face ableist barriers head on and confidently take up the space we are owed!
We are everywhere!
Disability impacts all of us: 1 in 4 Americans have some kind of disability (CDC, 2026). There are 5 main categories of disabilities: physical disabilities, sensory disabilities, neurodivergence, psychiatric disabilities, and undiagnosed disabilities.
Not all disabilities are visible just from looking at a person. Some people have invisible disabilities; for example, somebody with a vision impairment or neurodevelopmental condition may ‘pass’ as a nondisabled person. However, this does not make their experience of having a disability any less valid and they are still entitled to accommodations. It is important to honor the lived experiences of all disabled people.
How to show your support.
Whether you are disabled or nondisabled, learn your terminology because words matter! What we say and how we say it can make a huge difference in how safe others feel with us. To support people with disabilities in your community, know the difference between:
Identity-first vs person-first language: Some people feel affirmed by identity-first language like “person with a disability” while others feel validated by identity-first language like “disabled person”. Pay close attention to how someone self-identifies and refer to them in the same way. Bottom line, if you are unsure, just ASK! Asking how somebody wants to be identified communicates that you care about making them feel seen and safe.
The social and medical models of disability: Chances are, you may already be familiar with the medical model of disability. The medical model of disability views disability as a condition in need of curing. While some people may desire to become nondisabled through medical intervention, others may find this assumption extremely offensive. The social model of disability emphasizes that disability is not a condition needing curing, but that ableism– societal discrimination and exclusion of disabled people– is what prevents people with disabilities from flourishing (Siebers, 2008). As with identity-first and person-first language, do not make assumptions, but instead mirror the language others use when self-identifying.
Another way to support your local disability community is through advocating for special education services. There are many ways to support youth who receive special education services. Whether you are volunteering at a Special Olympics event, supporting the Michigan Alliance for Families, or helping a local special education teacher stock their classroom with supplies to help their students thrive, your action can make a difference!
WCGL is here for you.
At the Women’s Center of Greater Lansing, we believe that all people have unique potential, regardless of ability. We offer accessible career and vocational coaching, mental health counseling, and many more resources in an atmosphere that fosters mutual support, insight, and growth for all of our clients! To learn more about our services, visit lansingwomen.org.
Happy Disability Pride Month!
Love your proudly neurodivergent friend and advocate,
Lily
Works Cited
ADA National Network. (2026). What is the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)? . https://adata.org/learn-about-ada
Braille Works. (2018). Reflecting on life before the Americans with Disabilities Act. https://brailleworks.com/reflecting-on-life-before-the-americans-with-disabilities-act/
Coates, K. (2025). Disability pride month: Acknowledging our history, value, rights, and justice. Center for People With Disabilities. https://www.cpwd.org/blog/disability-pride-month-acknowledging-our-history-value-rights-and-justice
Howard University School of Law. (2026). The Equal Education Movement – A Brief History of Civil Rights in the United States . https://library.law.howard.edu/civilrightshistory/disabled/education