Disability Pride: A Celebration of Identity, Resilience, and Belonging
Every July, Disability Pride Month offers an opportunity to reflect not just on the legal strides made toward accessibility, but on the rich, complex identities of people who live with disabilities. It’s a time for visibility, self-expression, and celebration—though that wasn’t always how many of us were taught to think about disability.
For generations, disability has been treated as something to hide, overcome, or “fix.” The dominant medical model told us that disability was a personal tragedy—something wrong in the body or mind that needed correction. As occupational therapy practitioners, and more importantly, as people who listen to and learn from our clients every day, we now understand that this story is incomplete. Disability Pride Month invites us to tell a different one.
Disability pride is about reclaiming identity and rejecting shame. It’s about acknowledging that the challenges many disabled people face aren’t just about their bodies—they’re about the barriers society puts in place: the stairs without ramps, the jobs without flexibility, the assumptions people make without ever asking questions. This is the perspective offered by the social model of disability, which says that disability isn’t defined solely by impairment—it’s created by inaccessibility, discrimination, and exclusion. From this view, the solution isn’t to “fix” the person. The solution is to fix the world.
That doesn’t mean living with a disability is easy. It doesn’t mean every disabled person feels pride all the time, or that they have to. Pride can be complicated. For many, it comes only after grief, frustration, or exhaustion. But it can also grow from connection and community—from seeing yourself reflected in others, from recognizing your own resilience, and from claiming the right to show up in the world as your full self.
Occupational therapy is uniquely positioned to support that process. We work with people to build lives that reflect who they are, not who they’re expected to be. That might mean finding new ways to get dressed, cook meals, get to work, or engage in leisure—but at the heart of our work is a deep belief that people are the experts in their own lives. We’re here not to impose goals, but to uncover them alongside you.
For those just beginning to explore disability as part of their identity, there are wonderful resources that can help guide this journey. The Disability Visibility Project, curated by activist Alice Wong, offers powerful essays and stories from a wide range of disabled voices, providing both inspiration and community. Similarly, the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) promotes pride and inclusion specifically within the autistic community, highlighting the importance of self-advocacy. These organizations affirm that no one’s experience of disability is the same—and that every story deserves to be heard.
Beyond personal stories, understanding your rights is crucial. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a landmark civil rights law enacted in 1990, prohibits discrimination and promotes access in employment, public spaces, and education. The ADA National Network is an excellent place to learn about these rights and how to request accommodations, empowering individuals to advocate for themselves in all areas of life. For broader legal advocacy, groups like the National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) and the Center for Disability Rights provide critical support and resources.
Disability pride is also deeply connected to culture and history. The Disability History Museum offers an interactive way to learn about the past struggles and triumphs of disabled people, helping to contextualize today’s advocacy efforts. Engaging with disability culture through literature can also be affirming—organizations like Disability in Kidlit curate books by and about disabled authors and characters, which can be empowering for readers of all ages.
And for those inspired to move their bodies and celebrate ability in all its forms, the Challenged Athletes Foundation provides opportunities and support to pursue sports and fitness, reinforcing that disability and physical activity are not mutually exclusive.
At Moxie OT, we believe that pride and participation go hand in hand. When people feel proud of who they are, they’re more likely to advocate for their needs, set boundaries, and pursue goals that reflect their values—not just what’s “expected” of them. Disability pride can show up in everyday moments: choosing to use a mobility aid without apology, speaking up in a medical appointment, saying “this is hard” and still moving forward. It’s not always loud or visible. Sometimes it’s quiet and steady. And sometimes, just existing in a world that wasn’t designed with you in mind is an act of pride in itself.
There’s still a long way to go. Legal protections like the ADA have laid an important foundation, but they don’t guarantee equity or understanding. That’s why Disability Pride Month remains vital—not just to mark history, but to imagine new futures.
So this July, we invite you to reflect. What would pride look like in your life? What would it feel like to stop apologizing for your needs, to name your worth without hesitation, to believe that you belong—not in spite of your disability, but with it?
Pride doesn’t mean pretending things are easy. It means being honest about what’s hard, and still choosing to show up.
You deserve to take up space. And you don’t have to do it alone.
At Moxie OT, we’re here to support your journey—to help you build a life that reflects your strengths, your values, and your pride. Visit MoxieOT.com to learn more.
Interested in learning more or finding support? Here are some helpful resources to explore: