The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law on July 26, 1990. This was a major milestone in American history for the government to prohibit discrimination against individuals with disabilities in the United States.
There are many non-profit organizations and employers who promote disability inclusion, most of which we see celebrated during October for National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). But every July in New York, we take notice of New York’s dedication to celebrate the ADA and individuals with disabilities with their annual Disability Pride parade.
How did the history of Disability Pride Month begin in New York?
Mike LeDonne is a jazz pianist who has lived in New York since the late 1970s. In 2004, LeDonne and his wife had a daughter who was born with a rare syndrome called Prader-Willi and hydrocephalus. Through raising his daughter, he learned about the stigmas and challenges that individuals with disabilities face every day.
In 2012 Mike began planning what we know today as Disability Pride Day in New York City with the first parade taking place on July 12, 2015. This year, the parade will take place on July 15, 2018. The event is meant to drive inclusion, awareness and visibility to the community of individuals and veterans with disabilities. If you’re in New York, you’re not going to want to miss the celebration.
How can I support Disability Pride?
- If you’re local to New York, register for the 2018 Disability Pride Parade taking place on July 15!
- Share your company’s accommodation statement on your social channels. This will help drive awareness and visibility that you value the importance of accommodating individuals with disabilities in your workforce.
- Start planning your NDEAM campaigns with your Marketing and Communication teams to celebrate individuals with disabilities in October.
- Find two new community partners that will provide you with outreach and support for your disability hiring journey. Examples can include the MS Society, the Epilepsy Foundation, Wounded Warrior project, Autism Speaks etc.
- Partner with a third party disability recruitment solution to provide you with a customized plan that aligns with your employer brand to successfully support disability pride throughout the year.
Interested in learning more about how you can support disability pride in 2018? Reach out to our expert team of Account Managers for support! In the meantime, follow Getting Hired on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to stay in the know about the latest disability hiring news.
