24 Jun 2025
Blog: Disability Pride Month: What It Means for Healthcare
“We belong here, and we are here to stay.”
Every July, we celebrate Disability Pride Month. It’s a special time to honor people with disabilities and to remember that they deserve equal care and respect in all areas of life, including healthcare.
This month also marks the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a landmark law passed on July 26, 1990. The ADA helps make sure people with disabilities have the same rights as everyone else. For doctors, nurses, and healthcare workers, it’s a good time to reflect on how we care for patients with disabilities and how we can improve our care.
What Is Disability Pride?
Disability Pride means feeling good and proud about who you are—even if you have a disability. Your disability should not be hidden or shamed; it’s a unique part of you. In healthcare, pride means more than addressing a medical condition—it involves respecting individuals, listening to their needs, and ensuring they feel safe and valued. It also means understanding that people with disabilities know what they need and deserve to be part of their care decisions.
Why Disability Pride Month Matters in Healthcare
Even though we’ve made a lot of progress, many people with disabilities still face unfair treatment when they go to the doctor or hospital. The CDC says people with disabilities are more likely to have health problems, feel stressed, and miss out on care.
Here are some of the problems they face:
- Hospitals or offices that are hard to get into with a wheelchair
- Not enough materials in formats like sign language, Braille, or plain language
- Healthcare workers who don’t understand disability needs
- Rushed appointments that don’t give people enough time
- Some doctors ignore or blame all problems on disability
These issues can make patients feel unseen and unsafe. That’s why change is so significant.
What Can Healthcare Workers Do?
Disability Pride Month is not just about celebrating—it’s about taking action. Healthcare teams can:
- Think about their own beliefs and try to be more open and fairer
- Ask patients with disabilities what kind of care helps them feel supported
- Take training to understand different types of disabilities better
- Help change hospital rules to make things easier for everyone
- Make sure websites, forms, and videos are accessible to all
Ways to Get Involved
Here are some simple ways healthcare teams can show support:
- Plan a short training course about disability rights
- Look at medical forms to make sure they use respectful, easy-to-read language
- Work with local disability groups to learn more
- Make sure everyone can use your digital tools
- Support staff with disabilities and create an inclusive workplace
Let’s Care with Pride
Additional Resources:
Why and How to Celebrate Disability Pride Month – The Arc
10 Tips for Including People with Disabilities in the LGBTQ+ Community – National Resource Center for LGBTQ+ Aging
LGBTQ People with Disabilities – GLAAD
