Celebrating Disability Pride Month

1. Educate Yourself and Others

• Learn about disability history, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the disability rights movement, and key figures like Judith Heumann, Ed Roberts, and Alice Wong.

• Read books, watch documentaries, or listen to podcasts by disabled authors and creators (e.g., Disability Visibility by Alice Wong).

• Host or attend workshops, webinars, or panel discussions on topics like accessibility, intersectionality, and ableism.

 2. Amplify Disabled Voices

• Share content from disabled activists, creators, and educators on social media.

• Invite disabled speakers to share their lived experiences and perspectives at events or in classrooms.

• Support disability-owned businesses, artists, and organizations.

 3. Make Your Space More Inclusive

• Audit your workplace, school, or community space for accessibility improvements (e.g., ramps, captions, quiet rooms).

• Review your language and communication tools—use person-first or identity-first language as appropriate, and make sure content is accessible (e.g., alt text for images, readable fonts).

• Update hiring practices to ensure inclusivity and accommodations for all applicants.

 4. Participate in Local or Virtual Events

• Attend a Disability Pride Parade, rally, or awareness event if available in your area.

• Join online campaigns, challenges, or virtual celebrations using hashtags like #DisabilityPrideMonth, #DisabledAndProud, or #NothingAboutUsWithoutUs.

 5. Celebrate Disability as Part of Human Diversity

• Create art, host storytelling events, or organize a photo exhibit that highlights disability as a natural part of life.

• Encourage kids and teens to explore disability representation in media and learn about inclusive values.

6. Reflect and Challenge Ableism

• Reflect on unconscious biases or assumptions about disability.

• Engage in conversations about inclusion—not just physical accessibility, but also cultural and systemic inclusion.

• Speak up when you witness ableist behavior or exclusion.

7. Wear or Share Symbols of Pride

• Display the Disability Pride Flag or wear disability pride-themed clothing or pins.

• Use social media to share what disability pride means to you or your community.

Documentaries

1. Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution  (2020) – Netflix

A groundbreaking doc that tells the story of a summer camp for teens with disabilities in the 1970s, which became the birthplace of the American disability rights movement.

2. Including Samuel  (2007)

An emotional, award-winning film by photojournalist Dan Habib about including his son, Samuel (who has cerebral palsy), in all aspects of life.

3. The Reason I Jump  (2020) – Apple TV, Hulu

Based on the bestselling book by Naoki Higashida, this immersive film explores the world through the experiences of non-speaking autistic people.

4. When I Walk  (2013)

Directed by Jason DaSilva, this personal doc chronicles his journey after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

5. Deej  (2017)

A rare look into the life of DJ Savarese, a non-speaking autistic poet and advocate who challenges perceptions through his work and advocacy.

Dramas & Biopics

6. The Theory of Everything  (2014)

The life story of physicist Stephen Hawking, his diagnosis with ALS, and his brilliant scientific achievements.

7. Sound of Metal  (2019) – Amazon Prime

A drummer gradually loses his hearing and must adjust to a new identity as a Deaf person. Critically acclaimed for authentic representation of Deaf culture.

8. The Fundamentals of Caring  (2016) – Netflix

A comedic yet heartfelt story about a caregiver and a teen with muscular dystrophy as they embark on a road trip of discovery.

9. My Left Foot  (1989)

The story of Christy Brown, a man born with cerebral palsy who could only control his left foot but went on to become a writer and artist.

10. Children of a Lesser God  (1986)

A love story between a speech teacher and a Deaf custodian, highlighting communication and identity within the Deaf community.

Family-Friendly & Animation

11. Finding Dory  (2016) – Disney+

A Pixar sequel that gently normalizes neurodivergence and memory-related disabilities.

12. Loop  (2020, Pixar SparkShorts) – Disney+

A short film featuring a non-verbal autistic girl—remarkable for its inclusion and representation in animation.

13. Wonder  (2017)

Based on the bestselling novel, it tells the story of a boy with facial differences navigating middle school and finding acceptance.

1. Disability Visibility: First-Person Stories from the Twenty-First Century – Edited by Alice Wong

A groundbreaking anthology of essays by disabled people, covering everything from ableism and intersectionality to joy and resistance.

2. Being Heumann: An Unrepentant Memoir of a Disability Rights Activist – By Judith Heumann with Kristen Joiner

The powerful life story of one of the most influential disability rights leaders in history, chronicling her activism and the fight for the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

3. Sitting Pretty: The View from My Ordinary Resilient Disabled Body – By Rebekah Taussig

A witty, honest memoir that dismantles ableist assumptions and celebrates the richness of life in a disabled body.

4. Care Work: Dreaming Disability Justice – By Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha

A poetic, activist-centered collection of essays exploring disability justice from a queer, brown, and disabled perspective.

5. What Can a Body Do? How We Meet the Built World – By Sara Hendren

A blend of design, disability theory, and human stories that explores how our environments can be reimagined to be more inclusive.

6. El Deafo – By Cece Bell (Graphic Novel, Middle Grade)

A humorous and heartfelt graphic novel about growing up Deaf and learning to embrace one’s superpowers.

7. Out of My Mind – By Sharon M. Draper (Middle Grade)

A compelling story of a brilliant girl with cerebral palsy who cannot speak, but fights to be seen and heard.

8. One for All – By Lillie Lainoff (Young Adult)

A gender-bent retelling of The Three Musketeers starring a heroine with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS).

9. The Pretty One: On Life, Pop Culture, Disability, and Other Reasons to Fall in Love with Me – By Keah Brown

Part memoir, part cultural critique, this vibrant collection explores beauty, Blackness, and disability.

10. We Move Together – By Kelly Fritsch, Anne McGuire, and Eduardo Trejos

An inclusive, community-focused picture book celebrating disability, access, and mutual care.

11. Rescue & Jessica: A Life-Changing Friendship – By Jessica Kensky & Patrick Downes

A true story of a girl with limb differences and her service dog, showing the power of partnership and resilience.

12. Just Ask! Be Different, Be Brave, Be You – By Sonia Sotomayor

Written by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor, this picture book introduces children to various disabilities and differences through a garden of diverse kids.

Visual Artists

1. Frida Kahlo – Mexico | Polio survivor, chronic pain, spinal injuries

One of the most iconic painters in history, Kahlo used her art to explore pain, disability, identity, and politics. Her self-portraits often depicted her physical and emotional experiences.

2. Chuck Close – U.S. | Paralyzed (spinal artery collapse)

A renowned photorealist painter who continued to create massive portraiture works using custom tools and grid techniques after becoming paralyzed from the neck down.

3. Judith Scott – U.S. | Down syndrome, Deaf

A self-taught fiber artist who created vibrant, complex sculptures using yarn and found objects. Her work gained international recognition for its unique style and emotional depth.

4. Riva Lehrer – U.S. | Spina bifida

A visual artist and writer known for her powerful portraiture and memoir (Golem Girl), Lehrer explores disability, identity, and bodily difference through her work.

5. Alison Lapper – UK | Born without arms, shortened legs (phocomelia)

A visual artist and model who challenges traditional notions of beauty and body politics. She was famously depicted in Marc Quinn’s sculpture in London’s Trafalgar Square.

6. Mat Fraser – UK | Phocomelia (caused by thalidomide)

Actor, writer, and performance artist known for roles in American Horror Story and as a powerful advocate for disabled representation in theater and TV.

7. Gaelynn Lea – U.S. | Brittle bone disease (osteogenesis imperfecta)

An award-winning violinist and songwriter who uses a wheelchair and an adapted violin technique. She’s a prominent advocate for accessibility in the arts.

8. Leroy F. Moore Jr. – U.S. | Cerebral palsy

Poet, activist, and founder of Krip-Hop Nation, a movement that uplifts disabled hip-hop artists around the world.

9. Alice Sheppard – U.S. | Wheelchair user

A professional dancer and choreographer who fuses movement, disability, and race. She founded Kinetic Light, a disability arts ensemble.

10. Daniel Johnston – U.S. | Bipolar disorder

A cult favorite in the indie music world, known for his raw songwriting and hand-drawn album art. His mental health challenges were central to his identity and creativity.

11. Stephen Wiltshire – UK | Autistic

A savant architectural artist with the ability to draw entire cityscapes from memory after seeing them once. His precision and detail are astonishing.

12. DJ Hagog (DJ H) – Egypt | Deaf

A trailblazing Deaf DJ who uses vibration and light to “feel” music, breaking barriers in music performance for Deaf and hard-of-hearing communities.

1. Stephen Hawking (ALS)

• World-renowned theoretical physicist and cosmologist.

• Communicated through a speech-generating device.

• Authored A Brief History of Time, making complex science accessible.

2. Temple Grandin (Autism)

• Animal behavior expert and autism advocate.

• Revolutionized livestock handling systems.

• Promotes neurodiversity and understanding of autism.

3. Frida Kahlo (Polio, chronic pain from injury)

• Iconic Mexican painter known for deeply personal, symbolic work.

• Painted her pain and identity with bold, surrealist imagery.

4. Helen Keller (Deaf and blind)

• Author, lecturer, and activist.

• First deaf-blind person to earn a college degree.

• Advocate for disability rights, women's suffrage, and labor rights.

5. Jean-Dominique Bauby (Locked-in syndrome)

• Former Elle editor who wrote The Diving Bell and the Butterfly by blinking.

• Book became a bestseller and was later made into an award-winning film.

6. Marlee Matlin (Deaf)

• Oscar-winning actress (Children of a Lesser God).

• Advocate for deaf and hard-of-hearing communities.

7. RJ Mitte (Cerebral palsy)

• An actor known for playing Walt Jr. on Breaking Bad.

• Uses his platform to promote disability inclusion in entertainment.

8. Selma Blair (Multiple sclerosis)

• Actress who publicly disclosed her MS diagnosis in 2018.

• Has since become a powerful advocate for visibility and support.

9. Judith Heumann (Polio)

• Key figure in the U.S. disability rights movement.

• Helped pass major legislation like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

• Featured in the documentary Crip Camp.

10. Alice Wong (Spinal muscular atrophy)

• Disability activist, writer, and founder of the Disability Visibility Project.

• Focuses on amplifying disabled voices, especially BIPOC and LGBTQ+ individuals.

11. Franklin D. Roosevelt (Polio)

• 32nd U.S. President.

• Used a wheelchair (which was largely hidden from the public at the time).

• Led the U.S. through the Great Depression and most of WWII.

12. Tammy Duckworth (Double amputee)

• U.S. Senator and Iraq War veteran.

• First disabled woman elected to the U.S. Senate.

• Advocate for veterans, disability rights, and accessible infrastructure.

1. Marlee Matlin

• Disability: Deaf

• Oscar: Best Actress for Children of a Lesser God (1987)

• First (and still only) deaf actor to win an Academy Award.

• An outspoken advocate for deaf and disabled representation in film and TV.

2. Harold Russell

• Disability: Double arm amputee (WWII injury)

• Oscar: Best Supporting Actor for The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)

• Also received an honorary Oscar for “bringing hope and courage to his fellow veterans.”

• Played a version of himself — a veteran learning to live with prosthetics.

3. Troy Kotsur

• Disability: Deaf

• Oscar: Best Supporting Actor for CODA (2022)

• First male deaf actor to win an Academy Award.

• Praised for a moving performance and expanding visibility for Deaf culture in Hollywood.

1. Sergeant First Class Leroy Petry

• Conflict: Afghanistan (2010)

• Disability: Lost right hand (amputated after grenade blast)

• Heroism: Picked up an enemy grenade and threw it away to save fellow Rangers — it exploded mid-throw, severing his hand.

• Legacy: Became the first living amputee since Vietnam to receive the Medal of Honor. Uses a robotic prosthetic hand.

2. Corporal Kyle Carpenter

• Conflict: Afghanistan (2010)

• Disability: Traumatic brain injury, loss of one eye, severe facial and limb injuries

• Heroism: Threw himself on a grenade to shield a fellow Marine.

• Legacy: Became a motivational speaker and veteran advocate after multiple surgeries and recovery.

3. Captain Florent "Flo" Groberg

• Conflict: Afghanistan (2012)

• Disability: Severe leg injuries, traumatic brain injury

• Heroism: Tackled a suicide bomber and pushed him away from his formation, saving many lives.

• Legacy: Retired due to medical injuries; advocates for mental health and wounded warriors.

4. Sergeant Santiago J. Erevia

• Conflict: Vietnam War (1970)

• Disability: Suffered combat injuries

• Heroism: Single-handedly silenced enemy bunkers under heavy fire.

• Legacy: Later worked for the U.S. Postal Service. Honored after a review of past discrimination in awards for minority veterans.

1. Art Tatum  (Special Citation, 1973 – posthumous)

• Disability: Blind

• Award: Special Pulitzer Prize citation for his contributions to American music (jazz piano)

• Widely considered one of the greatest jazz pianists ever, Tatum was completely blind in one eye and had limited vision in the other from childhood.

1. Stevie Wonder

• Disability: Blind since birth

• Grammys: 25 Grammy Awards (including Album of the Year three times)

• One of the most influential artists of all time.

• Advocates for disability rights, accessible technology, and racial justice.

2. Ray Charles

• Disability: Blind from age 7 (glaucoma)

• Grammys: 17 Grammy Awards, plus Lifetime Achievement Award

• Blended soul, gospel, country, and R&B in groundbreaking ways.

• Widely credited with reshaping American music.

3. José Feliciano

• Disability: Blind from birth (congenital glaucoma)

• Grammys: Multiple Grammy Awards including Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement

• Known for his hit “Feliz Navidad” and virtuoso guitar work.

4. Evelyn Glennie

• Disability: Profoundly deaf

• Grammys: Grammy Award for Best Chamber Music Performance (1989)

• Scottish percussionist who plays barefoot to sense vibrations.

• A leading advocate for music education and Deaf artistry.

1. Murlidhar Devidas “Baba” Amte  (India, 1985 – Public Service)

• Disability: Lived with a degenerative spinal condition that left him unable to sit upright and often in pain.

• Work: Founded Anandwan, a self-sustaining rehabilitation community for people affected by leprosy and various disabilities, promoting dignity and social inclusion

2. Kim Sun tae  (South Korea, 2007 – Peace and International Understanding)

• Disability: Blind

• Contribution: Created transformative programs for the visually impaired in South Korea, providing practical support and inspiration

3. Grace Padaca  (Philippines, 2008 – Government Service)

• Disability: Paralyzed from polio since early childhood, dependent on crutches.

• Achievement: As governor, she took on entrenched political dynasties and corruption in Isabela province—her leadership was celebrated as a triumph over adversity

4. Vo Thi Hoang Yen  (Vietnam, 2018 – Community Leadership)

• Disability: Person with disability herself

• Initiative: Founder of the Disability Research & Capacity Development Center, she empowered thousands through job training, livelihood initiatives, and advocacy

1. Christine Hà  (blind)

• Status: Winner of MasterChef US; featured by the Michelin Guide.

• Disability: Lost her vision to optic neuromyelitis at age 20.

• Approach: Relies on her heightened taste, smell, hearing, and touch to cook—she sketches dishes mentally and masters knife skills by touch.

2. Michael Caines MBE  (arm amputee)

• Status: Former head chef at Michelin-starred Gidleigh Park; earned a second star post-amputation.

• Disability: Lost his right arm in a car accident; continued to lead kitchens and secured additional culinary accolades

3. Haikal Johari  (paralyzed, wheelchair-bound)

• Status: Executive chef of one-Michelin-starred Alma in Singapore.

• Disability: Paralyzed from the neck down after a 2015 motorcycle accident.

• Achievement: Led the restaurant to retain its star; regained significant mobility through rehab

4. Vikas Khanna  (club foot)

• Status: Michelin-starred celebrity chef, judge on MasterChef India.

• Disability: Born with a clubfoot, overcame childhood immobility.

• Story: His journey underlines perseverance and passion in pursuing culinary excellence

5. Fergus Henderson  (Parkinson’s disease)

• Status: Founder of London’s St John restaurant; awarded OBE.

• Disability: Diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 1998 and underwent deep brain stimulation in 2005.

• Impact: Continued cooking with grace, becoming an advocate and maintaining high culinary standards

6. Jordi Roca  (dysphonia)

• Status: Pastry chef at three-Michelin-starred El Celler de Can Roca; named World’s Best Pastry Chef (2014).

• Disability: Neurological vocal disorder causing permanent hoarseness.

• Advocacy: Opened inclusive ice cream parlors employing neurodiverse individuals

1. George Eyser  (USA, 1904 Summer Olympics)

• Disability: Lost his left leg in a train accident; competed with a wooden prosthesis.

• Achievement: Won six medals (three gold, two silver, one bronze) in a single day at the 1904 St. Louis Olympics, including gold in the vault.

2. Lis Hartel  (Denmark, 1952 & 1956 Summer Olympics)

• Disability: Paralyzed from the waist down due to polio.

• Achievement: Secured silver medals in dressage at both the 1952 and 1956 Olympics, becoming the first woman to compete in dressage at the Olympics in 1952.

3. Natalia Partyka  (Poland, 2008–2016 Olympics & Paralympics)

• Disability: Born without a right hand and forearm.

• Achievement: Competed in both the Olympic and Paralympic Games, winning multiple Paralympic gold medals in table tennis.

4. Sharon Hedrick  (USA, Paralympics)

• Disability: Paralyzed from the waist down due to a gunshot accident at age nine.

• Achievement: The only U.S. athlete to have won gold in both the Olympic and Paralympic Games, excelling in wheelchair racing, basketball, and swimming.

5. Pál Szekeres  (Hungary, 1988 Olympics & 1992–2008 Paralympics)

• Disability: Paralyzed from a bus accident in 1991.

• Achievement: Won a bronze medal in the 1988 Seoul Olympics and multiple gold medals in wheelchair fencing at the Paralympics.

6. Iyad Shalabi  (Israel, 2020 Summer Paralympics)

• Disability: Deaf and paraplegic.

• Achievement: Won two gold medals in swimming at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, becoming the first Arab-Israeli to win a Paralympic gold medal.

7. Ezra Frech  (USA, 2024 Summer Paralympics)

• Disability: Born with a congenital limb difference.

• Achievement: Won gold in the men's 100m T63 event at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, becoming the youngest-ever gold medalist in that category.

Tatyana McFadden  (born with spina bifida)

- Multiple-time Paralympic gold medalist in track and wheelchair events

Arunima Sinha  (amputee)

- First female amputee to summit Mount Everest (2013); received India’s Padma Shri

Jim Abbott  (without right hand)

- Major League Baseball pitcher; threw a no-hitter for the Yankees in 1993

Matthew Sanford  (paralyzed from chest down)

- Founded “Mind Body Solutions” to promote rehabilitation through mindfulness and yoga

Haben Girma  (deafblind)

- First deafblind graduate of Harvard Law; now a disability rights lawyer

Ed Roberts  (polio survivor, wheelchair user)

- Pioneer of independent living; first wheelchair user at UC Berkeley, MacArthur Fellow

Temple Grandin  (autism)

- Renowned animal scientist; revolutionized livestock handling with humane designs

Stephen Hawking  (ALS)

- Legendary theoretical physicist; authored A Brief History of Time and advanced black hole theory

Nick Vujicic  (no limbs)

- Founded “Life Without Limbs”, motivational speaker and author

Jean-Dominique Bauby  (locked-in syndrome)

- Wrote The Diving Bell and the Butterfly by blinking, inspiring film and literature

Helen Keller  (deafblind)

- First deaf blind to earn a BA (Radcliffe); author, activist, ACLU co-founder; honored with Medal of Freedom

Frida Kahlo  (polio, accident injuries)

- Iconic painter whose deeply personal work reshaped modern art.

Andrea Bocelli  (blind)

- Globally beloved tenor with 75 million+ records sold; bridged classical and popular music

Gertrude Oforiwa Fefoame  (visual impairment)

- First person with disability to receive Ghana’s Excellence Grand Medal; UN CRPD committee member

Ronald L. Mace  (polio, wheelchair user)

- Coined “universal design”, championed accessible architecture

Alyshia(chronic back injury)

- Returned to workforce through Disability Employment Services, earning a business scholarship

Leah Zelaya  (SPSMA, muscular dystrophy)

- High school advocate for accessibility, media representation, and policy change

Judy Heumann  (polio survivor)

- Trailblazing disability rights activist; instrumental in the ADA and IDEA