Disability Pride Month is celebrated every July to honor the history, achievements, experiences, and struggles of the disability community. It marks the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), landmark legislation that seeks to break barriers to inclusion in society. According to the Arc of The United States, “People with disabilities deserve to live full, self-determined lives, just like everyone else. Yet discrimination persists for the 1 in 4 U.S. adults living with a disability.”   

The first celebration was a Disability Pride Day that took place in Boston in 1990. Chicago hosted the first Disability Pride Parade in 2004. Now there are events nationwide empowering people with disabilities to take pride in who they are. This year’s theme, “We Want a Life Like Yours” comes from The Arc’s National Council of Self-Advocates.  

Click here to learn more about the history of Disability Pride Month and the story of the flag.

Ways you can learn more and celebrate: 

• Watch and read books, media, and music about the Disability Experience from people with disabilities, such as Disability Visibility, Crip Camp, CODA, Demystifying Disability, Lachi, Disabled Hikers, and The Ride Ahead  
• Click here to visit The Disability Rights Movement.
• Click here to learn more about Disability and Blackness from the 504 Protests and the Black Panther Party.
• Click here to learn more about the Power and Presence of Indigenous Disabled Stories.
• Click here to learn more about the One Out of Five: Disability History and Pride Project housed with the Governor’s Office of the Education Ombuds, and in partnership with Rooted in Rights and two local educators, Adina Rosenburg and Sarah Arvey. This was designed as a guide for public schools in Washington to address Disability History Month, celebrated in October every year. 

The Snohomish County Human Services, Developmental Disabilities team is hosting a special Disability Pride display on the first-floor lobby of West Administration Building located at 3000 Rockefeller Ave, Everett, WA. Feel free to visit the display and learn all about Disability Pride resources during the month of July, Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. 

The Arc of Snohomish County’s Women’s Self-Advocacy Group is celebrating Disability Pride Month with a discussion and activity on Thursday, July 11 at 11 AM at the Evergreen Branch Library at 9512 Evergreen Way. The Women’s Self Advocacy Group is designed for women ages 18 and up with intellectual or developmental disabilities, but welcomes all women, including LGBTQ+. Click here to learn more or contact Kylie Walsh - 425.258.2459 X121 kylie@arcsnoco.org.  

Make an appointment to visit The Ed Wiley Autism Acceptance Lending Library located in the lobby of the Stanwood Tattoo Company. The mission of the Ed Wiley Autism Acceptance Library is to promote understanding, acceptance and inclusion for Autistic people. Our organization is dedicated to the ideas of neurodiversity, Autistic/Disabled Pride and disability justice. The lending materials they offers reflects the wide and diverse scope of autism and intersectional identities. They are working towards building an inclusive community and providing relevant resources and information for Autistic people, our families, friends and allies. Click here to learn more and to make an appointment.  

Celebrate Disability Pride Month and attend an accessible outing with Disabled Hikers on Sunday, July 14th at the Nisqually Wildlife Refuge! Click here to RSVP and learn more.  

Celebrate Disability Pride with the Seattle Mariners on July 20th! Throughout July, join the Seattle Mariners in honoring the anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act on July 26, 1990. As part of the month-long celebration, they’re hosting a special night at T-Mobile Park on July 20. For every ticket sold, $10 will benefit the Seattle Children’s Stanley Stamm Summer Camp, which gives nearly 100 children with chronic medical conditions the chance to go fishing, ride horses and take part in other typical summer camp activities at a week-long sleepover camp near Mt. Rainier. Please note that music will be played during the game, but there will be a designated sensory-sensitive quiet area in Ellis Pavilion, located at the bottom of the home plate gate, where attendees can take a break when needed. Click here to view the Mariners Accessibility Guide. 

Click here to learn more about the Seattle Mariners' Disability Pride Night.

Secondary Transition Services are intended to help youth with disabilities make the transition from the world of high school to the world of adulthood. Snohomish County offers transition services in partnership with your local school district, the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA), the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR), and contracted Employment Service Providers.

Click here to learn more about Job Foundation (for students in their second to last year of school) and School to Work (for students in their last year of school).

Click here to learn more about Secondary Transition.

 According to the Administration for Community Living, “Extreme heat has emerged as an increasingly prevalent and severe natural hazard, presenting significant risks to public health, safety, critical infrastructure, and agriculture. People with disabilities and older adults are disproportionately affected by extreme heat, and their exposure leads to a higher likelihood of experiencing severe health risks or death.” Preparing ahead of time can help to when the heat, and stress rises during the summer months.  

• Stay hydrated and know the signs of heat-related illness.  
• Take heat seriously. In extreme heat, a fan should NOT be relied on as the only method of cooling.  
• Have an emergency kit, including extra medications if needed.  
• Be careful about the amount of time spent outdoors  
• Draw your curtains. 40% of heat can come through windows. 
• If the power goes out, make sure to stay in contact with family and friends. Arrange to have family, friends, or neighbors check in with you at least twice a day throughout warm weather periods.  
• If you need help paying your cooling bills, you may be eligible for LIHEAP assistance. Click here for more information or call 866.674.6327  
• Click here to sign up for SnoCoAlerts and learn more about Extreme Heat Events and Cooling Centers.

Click here to take the Global Heat Health Indoor Heat – Myths and Facts Quiz.

On Tuesday, June 18th, the White House Office of Public Engagement hosted disability advocates from around the country to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Olmstead Supreme Court decision. This decision was important because the court concluded that people with disabilities have a right to receive state-funded supports in the community, rather than in facilities and institutions. Community living, therefore, is not a preference, but a civil right. Following the film screening of Take Me Home, disability advocates and senior Biden-Harris Administration officials shared resources that promote the full participation and meaningful inclusion of Americans with disabilities in our communities.  

Click here to watch a recording of the White House Olmstead Observance.

Click here to read more about the Olmstead Act.

Click here to learn more about the Take Me Home film.

DD Team member Jen Chong Jewell received a Certificate of Appreciation on behalf of the team from the Project SEARCH Swedish Edmonds program for our team’s dedication to the student interns for the 2023-24 School Year.

• Snohomish County Elections Division has scheduled their August 2024 Disability Advisory Committee Meeting and are seeking interested individuals and groups to participate.
• Date: Monday, August 19, 2024
• Time: 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
• Location: Via Zoom (Please register here) Meeting Registration - Zoom  

Arc at M-Bar-C Ranch

• Join the Arc of Snohomish County for a day of old-fashion family fun on Whidbey Island!
• Saturday, August 3, 2024 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
• Activities: Western dress-up, playtime in the old western village, games and crafts, assisted horse rides, hot dog lunch. 
• Click here for more information (flier also available in Spanish)