Last month was LGBTQIA+ Pride, and this month, we celebrate a different kind of Pride: Disability Pride. Much like LGBTQIA+ Pride, this month is about accepting a part of your identity that you can’t change and learning to be proud of that identity. As someone who is part of both communities, I can see the similarities and differences between the two and am proud of both. Many of us in the disabled community like to say, “Same struggle, different difference.”
We celebrate Disability Pride Month every July in commemoration of the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990, a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on disability. Disability Pride Month is a time to celebrate the abilities and strengths of people with disabilities. It’s about showing respect and support for everyone, no matter their differences. During this month, events and activities teach us how to be inclusive and kind to all people, including those with disabilities. It’s a chance to learn about different challenges people may face and to celebrate their unique talents. Ultimately, Disability Pride Month reminds us that every person deserves to be valued and treated with dignity. Be sure to check out the Disability Pride Toolkit from the National Council on Independent Living.
Books for Kids
Books for Teens
Books for Adults
Accessibility at Fountaindale
We are committed to ensuring that every facet of our library is as accessible as possible to everyone in our community. If you would like to learn more about requests for accommodation and our procedure for addressing accessibility concerns, please read our Accessibility Policy. If you encounter any accessibility issues with our library, please report them by filling out our Accessibility Support Form. You can also view a listing of the resources and services we provide in order to achieve this goal. Have dyslexia or want to know more about it? Learn more about our resources for learners with dyslexia.
Disability rights activist and urbanist Ed Roberts
Honoring Ed Roberts (1939–1995)
One such person to honor and celebrate is disability rights activist and urbanist Ed Roberts and his Rolling Quads, a group of disability activists who took matters into their own hands. Roberts got sick with polio when he was 14 years old and had to use an iron lung and a wheelchair for the rest of his life. Through his determination and grit, Roberts found his voice and fought for justice for disabled people. Learn more about Ed Roberts and his Rolling Quads in this 2021 article from 99% Invisible.
Bolingbrook’s Visibility Code
Fun fact: Bolingbrook is one of the few municipalities with a Visibility Code. This code requires that all new construction be made accessible for people with disabilities, such as step-free entrances, wider doorways, first-floor bathrooms and more. I have a friend who moved to Bolingbrook for this reason. You can learn more about the code in the article Assuring Accessible Housing: The Visitability Code of the Village of Bolingbrook by Katherine Fuller of Grand Valley State University, published in the SPNA Review.
Disability Pride and LGBTQIA+ Pride
The intersection of Disability Pride and LGBTQIA+ Pride is deeper than the Grand Canyon, and nowhere is it richer than in the HIV Community. Thankfully, the ADA and Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act protect against discrimination based on someone’s HIV status. But that doesn’t prevent HIV or AIDS from being a disabling condition in your life. Here are some books (fiction and nonfiction) to help you learn more about the AIDS crisis of the 80s and the current state of the HIV Community.