Did You Know July is Disability Pride Month?

July 26, 1990, was a date many people in the United States celebrated due to the passing of The Americans with Disabilities Act. This law, signed by President George H.W. Bush, prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities. It is not nationally recognized, but due to the historic nature of such an event, it is celebrated in the United States in every major city. It is a time to empower people of this community.

According to the journal, Disability World, people with disabilities and diverse abilities like blindness or other forms of visual impairment can be two to four times as likely to develop a substance use disorder. When substance use disorders are present, it is important to recognize that it is in response to a challenge, environment, or trauma in that individual's life.

This is a month to celebrate how far communities with disabilities have come, how to further help and elevate the voices of this population, and how to be a better ally. Prevention education and harm reduction should be welcome in all spaces and specific circumstances and abilities should be considered in all cases. It is the responsibility of everyone who provides services to look at the gaps in service and strive to mitigate risk factors.

To close out the celebration of such an important month, the Mercer Council has done several programs to commemorate this:

Programs from the Mercer Council:

- Disability Pride Month Playlist from our virtual program, Empowering (You)th