Celebrating Disability Pride Month: The Americans with Disabilities Act and Art
Disability Pride Month is observed annually in July to celebrate the disability community, promote awareness of disability rights, and commemorate the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26, 1990. The ADA was more than legislation—it was a civil rights milestone shaped by decades of activism and deeply rooted in the legacy of the Civil Rights Movement. Protests like The Capitol Crawl where over 1,000 disabled people shed their assistive devices to crawl up the steps and made history by demanding dignity and equality.
The ADA has led to significant improvements in terms of access to public services, accessibility in the physical environment, and societal understanding of disability. Additionally, the meaningful changes over the past three decades created and increased accessibility across many sectors with particularly transformative effects in the arts and cultural spaces.
The ADA has revolutionized accessibility in cultural spaces, such as theaters, museums, and galleries, through physical infrastructures where public spaces are mandated to be accessible to people with disabilities. The Arts and Culture community addressed accessibility in multiple ways from creating more room for assistive devices, installing displays and exhibits at varying heights, providing subtitles, offering guided tours for people with visual impairments, and providing digital maps.
The impact was astounding as the audio descriptions brought visual art to life for blind audiences, tactile exhibits invited touch-based exploration, and assistive technologies opened new creative possibilities. Sign language interpreters at performances do not just translate, they become part of the artistic experience itself. The ADA’s impact on the arts demonstrates how accessibility requirements do not limit the creative and art sector – it expands who can participate and enjoy cultural experiences.
Disability Pride and Art
Disability Pride means:
- Recognizing all people with disabilities, people with visible and invisible disabilities
- Acknowledging that the disability is not the problem, but systemic
- Believing people with disabilities deserve access, dignity, and respect
- Promoting and developing positive identities and representation
- Affirming the diverse experiences of people with disabilities
- Valuing the achievements and contributions of people with disabilities
- Being Proud of Who We Are
- Remembering our history and committing to our future
Disability Pride reminds us that accessibility and inclusion means ensuring everyone can participate fully in all aspects of society – including the fundamental human experience of not only experiencing, but creating art.
Creativity knows no physical, cognitive, or sensory boundaries. Throughout history, artists with disabilities have demonstrated that artistic expression flourishes in countless forms from music composers who are deaf (Beethoven, anyone?) to painters who utilize their feet to artists who create digital art through eye-tracking technology or craft sculptures using adaptive tools.
Accessibility in the arts is not about accommodation; it is about innovation. When we remove barriers, we do not diminish art – we expand it. Museums with wheelchair-accessible spaces, theaters with sensory-friendly performances, and digital platforms with screen reader compatibility do not change the essence of creativity; they ensure more people can participate in both creating and experiencing it.
True artistic accessibility recognizes that diverse minds and abilities bring unique perspectives to creative expression. The result is not art that is “modified” for disability – it is art that is enriched by the full spectrum of human experience.
CC Disability Pride and Art
The values at the heart of Disability Pride Month – dignity, inclusion, diversity, and empowerment – mirror what we see in arts and in our community: creativity without limits and expression in its most authentic forms. We are incredibly proud of our artists, creators, makers, curators, organizers, and small business owners with disabilities who share their art, experiences, and lives that amplifies the infinite nature of creativity and art. We are grateful to our community members who join us in our commitment to advocating for disability rights and advancing accessibility in the arts.
As we celebrate Disability pride, we are reminded and recognize both the progress made and the ongoing opportunities to create accessible communities where everyone can participate fully. Let’s uplift all members of the disability community – whether we use wheelchairs, canes, hearing aids, live with invisible disabilities, or have service animals.
Because without pride, there is no progress. And without access, there is no equality. Join us as we celebrate, but also recommit to the work ahead.
#DisabilityPride #ADA34 #NothingAboutUsWithoutUs
Are you a person with a disability in need of assistance, services, and accessible arts? We are ready to support your journey. Here are a few of our community members to get you started:
Northeast Arc provides comprehensive services to empower individuals of all abilities to fully participate in their communities through lifelong support—from early intervention to adult programs—promoting independence, growth, and opportunity.
The Salem Pantry addresses food insecurity by providing pop up pantries and markets that are accessible by public transportation. If desired, an appointment can be made for ease of access. Additionally, home delivery is available as well as the ability to attend to various food allergies.
The North Shore Children’s Museum offers low-sensory and inclusive sport play sessions. Additionally, there are sensory friendly, STEM, motor skills, and maker space exhibits to explore.
The Salem Witch Museum has a virtual tour and other online resources about Salem, witches, and the trials.
Feeling crafty? Create & Escape offers several DIY craft kits for kids and adults to enjoy art making in your own environment.
Wanna get witchy with it? The Witchery has the following kits-to-go: Broom Making, Bookbinding, Spelljar, and Pentacle Wreath.
Ready for sew much fun or looking to make pin pals? Circle of Stitches provides stitching community events, workshops, and assistance all online!
Interested in seeking additional support? Check out our Anti-racism, Equity, and Accessibility Resources.
Check out our Directory for more of our amazing community members. If you are unsure or have questions about accessibility, please reach out to the community member to discuss accommodations. We are more than happy to assist you!
Are you an artist, creator, maker, curator, organizer, and small business owner with a disability in need of personalized, adaptive business guidance and solutions? Join us today!
