STG resource guide: Disability Pride Month

July is Disability Pride Month, a time to celebrate and recognize the contributions of people with disabilities in society. It is a month to raise awareness about the challenges and barriers that people with disabilities face, while also promoting acceptance, inclusion, and respect. Disability Pride Month was first celebrated in 1990 and coincides with the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a landmark civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life. The resource guide that follows is a list that provides some of the many ways in which we can support and uplift individuals with disabilities in our communities.

Educational materials:

About Disability Pride Month:

• Disability Pride Month: Why We Celebrate in July - This article from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) provides an overview of Disability Pride Month and its significance.
• The History of Disability Pride Month - This article from the Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund (DREDF) provides a brief history of Disability Pride Month and its roots in the disability rights movement.
• Celebrating Disability Pride Month - This resource from the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) provides information on Disability Pride Month, along with suggestions for how to celebrate and support individuals with disabilities.
• Disability Pride Month: Celebrating Visibility and Intersectionality - This article from the Center for American Progress provides an overview of Disability Pride Month, along with a discussion of the importance of intersectionality in the disability rights movement.
• Disabled and Here: Celebrating Disability Pride Month - This article from the New York Times features personal essays from individuals with disabilities, highlighting the importance of Disability Pride Month and the need for greater awareness and acceptance.

• The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating, by Elisabeth Tova Bailey - This memoir recounts the author's experience with a debilitating illness and her relationship with a tiny snail that she keeps in a terrarium by her bedside. It's a touching exploration of the power of small things and the resilience of the human spirit.
• The Pretty One: On Life, Pop Culture, Disability, and Other Reasons to Fall in Love with Me, by Keah Brown - This collection of essays by a disabled writer celebrates the joy and humor of life as a disabled person. Brown shares personal stories and reflections on pop culture, beauty, and disability activism
• Disability Visibility: First-Person Stories from the Twenty-First Century, edited by Alice Wong - This anthology features essays and stories by disabled writers, activists, and thinkers. The contributors explore a wide range of topics related to disability, from healthcare and employment to love and sexuality.
• Criptiques, edited by Caitlin Wood - This collection of essays, poetry, and artwork by disabled writers and artists celebrates the beauty and power of disability culture. The contributors challenge ableist assumptions and celebrate the richness of disability identity.
• No Pity: People with Disabilities Forging a New Civil Rights Movement, by Joseph P. Shapiro - This nonfiction book tells the story of the disability rights movement in the United States, from its early days in the 1960s to the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990.

Films:

• Crip Camp (2020) - This documentary film tells the story of a summer camp for disabled teenagers in the 1970s, which became a launching pad for the disability rights movement in the United States
• The Elephant Man (1980) - This biographical drama tells the story of Joseph Merrick, a man with severe physical deformities who became a celebrity in Victorian-era England. The film explores themes of ableism, prejudice, and humanity.
• The Theory of Everything (2014) - This biographical drama tells the story of Stephen Hawking, the renowned physicist who was diagnosed with a motor neuron disease at the age of 21. The film explores Hawking's personal and professional life, as well as his relationship with his wife, Jane.
• Intouchables (2011) - This French film tells the story of a wealthy quadriplegic man who hires a young man from the projects to be his caretaker. The film explores themes of class, race, and disability, and has been widely acclaimed for its humanizing portrayal of disability
• My Left Foot (1989) - This biographical drama tells the story of Christy Brown, an Irishman with cerebral palsy who became a writer and artist despite significant physical challenges. The film explores themes of perseverance, creativity, and the power of the human spirit.
• Temple Grandin (2010) - This biographical drama tells the story of Temple Grandin, an autistic woman who revolutionized the cattle industry with her innovations in animal welfare. The film explores themes of neurodiversity, creativity, and innovation.

Organizations and support groups for people with disabilities:

• Disability Rights Washington - This organization advocates for the rights of people with disabilities and provides legal services, advocacy, and education.
• The Arc of King County - This nonprofit organization provides support services, advocacy, and community engagement opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.
• Northwest ADA Center - This organization provides information, training, and technical assistance on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to individuals, businesses, and organizations in the Northwest region.
• DAWN - Disabilities Awareness and Advocacy Network - This organization provides advocacy, education, and support services to individuals with disabilities, including peer support groups and employment services.
• Seattle Adaptive Sports - This organization provides sports and recreation opportunities for individuals with physical disabilities, including adaptive skiing, kayaking, and wheelchair basketball.
• Washington State Independent Living Council - This organization promotes independent living and provides resources and advocacy for people with disabilities
• STG's Broadway Inclusion Program - STG's Broadway Inclusion Program provides theatre arts programming to neurodivergent and/or disabled community members and their families and caregivers.