Celebrate Disability Pride Month in the USA

The first Disability Pride Day was held in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1990. Since then, many U.S. cities have organized their own annual events, extending Disability Pride festivities through much of the year. Chicago, Illinois, presents the nation’s longest-running Disability Pride Parade in July. The city’s accessible public transportation systems make it easy to attend this established event. Pennsylvania’s Disability Pride celebrations stretch from July through October, with events in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Hershey & Harrisburg and the Lehigh Valley. Highlights range from parades and concerts to art shows and assistive technology demonstrations. October brings Disability Pride gatherings to all corners of the USA. Join marches, talks and group activities at events like the abilitySTRONG Parade in San Antonio, Texas; the Disability Pride Parade in Los Angeles, California; and FestAbility: A Celebration of Disabilities in St. Louis, Missouri.

Learn about members of the disability community who have left their mark on the USA: Visit museums and memorials dedicated to change-makers of all abilities. In the Northeast, the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial in Washington, D.C., honors the 32nd and longest-serving U.S. president. Explore the accessible grounds to see a bronze statue of Roosevelt, a polio survivor. The Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park in Church Creek, Maryland, celebrates the life and legacy of abolitionist Harriet Tubman. Tubman overcame abuse-related ailments, including lifelong seizures, to lead hundreds of enslaved people to freedom. Study her story through film and exhibits at the park’s visitor center.

In Tuscumbia, Alabama, tour the birthplace of Helen Keller, a disability advocate who was deaf and blind. Keller’s estate, known as Ivy Green, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Its sprawling grounds include an outdoor theater where a play about her life is performed each summer. Travel west to visit the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The museum is an accessible destination with universal design and assistive technology. It shares Team USA’s Olympic and Paralympic history through artifacts and interactive displays.

No matter your destination, you can find inclusive activities to enhance your exploration of the USA. Be soothed by underwater wonders at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, Illinois. Its amenities include a quiet room, sound-reducing headphone rentals and a sensory-friendly app. For those who enjoy accessible media, the Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library at the New York Public Library in New York City offers talking books and other audio entertainment options for the blind and visually impaired.

Thrill seekers can explore the USA’s spectacular landscapes with adaptive equipment from inclusive outfitters. Adaptive BIKETOWN in Portland, Oregon, rents out many types of modified bikes. Teton Adaptive Sports in Teton Village, Wyoming, leads adaptive climbing, paddling, paragliding and skiing adventures. The Palm Beaches of Florida welcome everyone to savor the surf and sun. Their accessible beaches are equipped with complimentary sand wheelchairs and rubberized mats for mobility support. San Antonio, Texas, is the home of Morgan’s Wonderland, The World’s First Ultra-Accessible™ Theme Park. Their family-friendly attractions include a wheelchair-accessible Ferris wheel, Sensory Village™ and water play area.