The Americans with Disabilities Act was passed on July 26, 1990, but starting this July Long Beach will celebrate its anniversary throughout the month for years to come.
Following unanimous approval from Long Beach City Council Tuesday night, the city will recognize every July as Disability Pride and Empowerment Month and each July 26 as ADA Day.
The motion was brought forward by Councilmember Mary Zendejas, who is both a member of the disabled community and a city councilmember, and co-authored by councilmembers Kristina Duggan and Megan Kerr.
“The purpose of this item is to send a clear message to all our residents living in Long Beach with a disability, and that message is, ‘You are beautiful, you are strong, you are worthy and you are valued here in the city of Long Beach,’” Zendejas said.
According to the Long Beach Disability Community Resource Guide, more than 46,000 people with disabilities live in the city and more than 9,000 students with disabilities are enrolled in the Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD).
Cities such as New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Madison, Wisconsin have been celebrating Disability Pride Month since the early 2000s.
Long Beach began its celebration of Disability Pride month last year, when nonprofit Long Beach Disability Pride began hosting celebrations for the ADA anniversary at Harvey Milk Promenade Park. Zendejas has sponsored the event both years.
In the 30 plus years since the ADA was passed, it has provided protections for people in the U.S. living with disabilities by prohibiting discrimination in employment, education, transportation and use of public spaces.
“Disability pride and empowerment is about celebrating our disabilities community and recognizing the fight advocates before us have fought to get us to where we are today,” Zendejas said.
Additional sponsors for this year’s celebration include California State Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal, Long Beach Firefighters, Downtown Long Beach Alliance, Island Pitch, the Black Sheep Salon and more.
The Disability Pride celebration will take place on July 26 at Harvey Milk Promenade Park from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and include guest speakers, a DJ, a performance by Infinite Flow Dance and free dry haircuts from Black Sheep Salon with sign-ups.
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