July is Disability Pride Month, a celebration of the pride felt by those individuals with disabilities. Beginning as Disability Pride Day to recognize the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio declared July as Disability Pride Month in 2015 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of this civil rights law. Although not a nationally recognized observance, the month continues to be recognized by the disabled community as a celebration of heritage, disability culture, and the unique experiences and contributions of people with disabilities.
To recognize and celebrate this month, CEHHS created a curated list of resources centering disabled voices and stories. We organized these resources into different categories to focus on the unique experiences of the broad community. These resources are available through the UT Library and online.
2022 Highlighted Resources
Global Disability Rights Advocacy Project – Center for Sport, Peace & Justice (UT Knoxville)
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
On July 26, 1990, President George H. W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), one of the most comprehensive civil rights legislations in the United States. This “equal opportunity” law prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability status. The ADA protects individuals with disabilities rights to procure employment, to purchase goods/services, and to participate in governmental programs. Learn more about the ADA at www.ada.gov
ADA at 30: Accessibility in Pittsburg | Podcast
Celebrating 25 years of the Americans with Disabilities Act | Blog Post
Civics 101 – Episode 113: The Americans with Disabilities Act | Podcast Episode
Sitting-in for disability rights: The Section 504 protests of the 1970s | Blog Post
The 30th Mark – A Look at the History of the Americans with Disabilities Act | Timeline
Disabled Voices
The below resources highlight some of the voices in the disabled community through different media formats.
Academic Ableism: Disability and Higher Education | E-Book
A Disability History of the United States | Physical Book
Crip Theory: Cultural Signs of Queerness and Disability | E-Book & Physical Book
Deconceptualizing Disability in Education | E-Book
Recovering Bodies: Illness, Disability, and Life-Writing | E-Book & Physical Book
The Autistic Brain: Thinking Across the Spectrum | Physical Book
The Disability Studies Reader | E-Book
I’m Not Your Inspiration, Thank You Very Much | Video
Lives Worth Living | Documentary
Our Fight for Disability Rights – And Why We’re Not Done Yet | Video
Sins Invalid: An Unshamed Claim to Beauty | Documentary
Everything Here Is Beautiful by Mira Lee| Physical Book
Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert | Physical Book
Girl at War by Sara Nović | Physical Book
Marcelo in the Real Word by Francisco Stork | Physical Book
Curated July 2021 by Miranda N. Rutan, Doctoral Student, CEHHS DEI, UT Knoxville | Updated July 2023 by Miranda N. Rutan, Doctoral Student, CEHHS DEI, UT Knoxville