July is Disability Pride Month—a time to celebrate the disability community, honor the progress of the disability rights movement, and reflect on how we can all help build a more inclusive world. 

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law 36 years ago, transforming accessibility and civil rights protections across the country. Disability Pride Month honors that progress while reminding us that inclusion is ongoing work—work that continues today through advocacy, community, and everyday acts of belonging. 

Creating space to celebrate disability pride helps normalize it. Every conversation, shared experience, and advocacy effort deepens understanding and brings us closer to communities where everyone truly belongs. 

Whether you’re a family member, a Direct Support Professional (DSP), a friend, or an ally, here are five meaningful ways to celebrate Disability Pride Month. 

1. Take a Deep Dive into Pride 

One of the most powerful ways to honor Disability Pride Month is to support people with disabilities in embracing their own sense of pride. This means following their lead—not defining what pride should look like for them.  

“Everyone carries a self-image that shapes how they see both themselves and the world around them. For people with disabilities, it’s often those closest to them who try to define that image,” said Niki Jones, Director of Living Options & Services at Fello. “When we empower people with disabilities to discover and embrace their self-worth independently, we do more than uplift how they see themselves—we affirm that their self-image is truly their own.” 

Activity: My Story, My Way 

Invite someone you know to share what disability pride means to them, using whatever mode of communication feels most comfortable. That could include conversation, artwork, pictures, music, or Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). 

The goal isn’t to shape their perspective, but to give them space to express themselves authentically and on their own terms. 

2. Learn About Disability Rights History 

Disability pride carries deeper meaning when we understand its roots. Learning about the advocates who challenged barriers and changed laws helps us appreciate both the progress that’s been made and the work that continues today. 

Fello’s The Movement That Made Us series provides a decade-by-decade exploration of the history of the disability rights movement. Reading it together creates an opportunity to reflect on the victories and milestones that have shaped what it means to live with a disability today. 

• The Movement That Made Us: The 1960s 
• The Movement That Made Us: The 1970s 
• The Movement That Made Us: The 1980s 
• The Movement That Made Us: The 1990s 
• The Movement That Made Us: The 2000s 

The disability rights movement was driven by self-advocates dedicated to making a difference—and that spirit lives today. Anyone can be a self-advocate, and Disability Pride Month is the perfect time to begin. 

Activity: Write a Letter to Advocate for Disability Funding 

Work together to write a letter to your elected officials. Encourage the person to share their story and why disability services are vital—not just for themselves, but for the broader goal of inclusion. Find your elected officials here. 

If they find this activity meaningful, encourage them to stay engaged. Fello’s Living Boldly group empowers people with disabilities to raise their voices and advance rights across Maryland—and new members are always welcome. 

3. Explore the Community Together 

Some of the most memorable moments happen when we step outside our routines and experience something new together. Shared experiences like these create opportunities for growth, confidence, and connection. 

Set aside a few hours to visit somewhere that matches the interests of the person in your life—a new restaurant, a tucked-away coffee shop, or a park they’ve always passed but never explored. Often, the most meaningful adventures are the ones closest to home. 

“Home activities will always have their place, but people with disabilities often feel most fulfilled when they’re out in the world engaging, connecting, and contributing as neighbors and community members,” said Jodie Colombo, Director of Day Services. “An active life builds self-pride and strengthens our sense of belonging in the neighborhoods where we live and work. That’s something that benefits everyone.” 

Activity: Pride Walk 

Invite friends and family to join a neighborhood walk while everyone wears or carries something that represents disability pride—such as a shirt, a pin, or a flag. It’s a simple, visible way to celebrate together and stand with people with disabilities in your own community. 

4. Attend a Local Disability Pride Event 

Disability Pride Month is celebrated with events across the country—and in Maryland, there’s no shortage of opportunities to come together, connect, and belong. 

• Baltimore’s Annual Disability Pride Arts Fest offers free, inclusive art workshops and performances celebrating the creativity and leadership of the disability community. 

• Montgomery Parks’ Disability Pride Outside features accessible and adaptive outdoor experiences—kayaking, guided boat tours, and birding—so that everyone can participate. 

• The City of Frederick’s Cultural Connection brings the community together for an evening of art that highlights the experiences and contributions of Frederick’s disability community through creative expression. 

Activity: Free Events at Fello at The Mall 

Every month, Fello at The Mall, located in the Annapolis Mall, hosts free, accessible events designed for people with disabilities and their families. On July 28 and August 1, join us for an afternoon of crafting and creating—and an opportunity to learn about Fello’s services and connect with resources in your community. 

5. Reflect on Your Own Journey 

Disability Pride Month isn’t only for people with disabilities. It’s an opportunity for everyone to consider how we each contribute to building a more inclusive community. 

Take some time this month to reflect on your own attitudes and beliefs about disability. Are there assumptions or biases that might be holding you back from being a stronger advocate? Where is there room to expand your understanding or challenge your perspective? 

Those questions aren’t always comfortable—but growth rarely is.  

“Pausing to reflect on our own beliefs and envision the future we hope to create is one of the most important steps we can take when supporting and advocating for people with disabilities,” said Joan Green, Director of Community Engagement. “Being the best advocates we can be is a lifelong journey of checking in and showing up. It takes intention, and it’s always worthwhile.” 

Make This Month Matter 

Disability Pride Month is a reminder that inclusion isn’t built through one big moment. It’s built through everyday choices—listening with intention, creating opportunities for connection, advocating for accessibility, and celebrating the unique strengths and experiences of people with disabilities.  

However you choose to celebrate, what matters most is being there—for the people in your life, for the broader disability community, and for the inclusive Maryland we’re working to build together.