July is Disability Pride Month! The theme for this year’s celebration is “We Belong and We’re Here to Stay”. This powerful message highlights the resilience of the disabled community while also acknowledging that many are often overlooked in areas such as society, policy, and media.
Although disabled people make up the largest minority group globally, their experiences and contributions are often overlooked. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), over 1.3 billion people—or 1 in 6 globally—live with some form of disability (WHO, 2023). However, disability representation in media and leadership remains disproportionately low, with barriers to healthcare, education, and employment. Disability Pride Month provides an important opportunity to challenge stereotypes and create space for more inclusive conversations.
Disability Pride Month originated in 1990 in the USA, after the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed to protect the civil rights of disabled people. Northern Ireland released similar legislation in 1995, with England, Wales and Scotland following suit in 2002. These laws laid important groundwork, but Disability Pride Month reminds us that legislative change must be matched by cultural and systemic change.
Despite growing visibility, systemic inequality continues. In the UK, disabled people are twice as likely to be unemployed compared to non-disabled people (Office for National Statistics, 2022). They are also more likely to experience poverty, mental health difficulties, and social isolation.
Across this month, many parts of the world will come together to celebrate the identity and value of disabled individuals. Celebrations range from parades and panels to social media campaigns, art exhibitions, and community-led events. It’s a chance to encourage conversations around lived experience and education, and ways that communities can advocate for a more inclusive world.
