Cincinnati and Hamilton County are set to join the national celebration of Disability Pride Month with events and activities throughout July. The initiative, Disability Pride Cincy, marks a continued effort in the region to recognize and promote the rights of individuals with disabilities, building on the legacy of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), passed on July 26, 1990.
Celebrating the 35th Anniversary of the ADA
The ADA is landmark legislation that safeguards the rights of individuals with disabilities, ensuring access to accommodations, transportation, employment, communication, and state and federal programs. Since its passage, national and local events have evolved into a month-long observance of Disability Pride, highlighting the achievements and contributions of the disability community.
Month-Long Celebrations in Cincinnati
Throughout July, more than 30 participating organizations, made up of local governments, arts and community groups, businesses and social service agencies in the Cincinnati region, will host various events to celebrate Disability Pride. The city of Cincinnati will kick off the month with a Disability Pride flag-raising ceremony on Monday, July 1, in front of City Hall.
Highlights of other events taking place during the month include:
- City of Cincinnati Disability Pride Flag Raising and Proclamation: 11 a.m. July 1; Cincinnati City Hall | 801 Plum St.
- Disability Pride Adult Skating Party: 7-9 p.m. July 9; Riverfront Rink | 705 E. Pete Rose Way
- Accessible Hamilton County: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 12; Hamilton County Developmental Disabilities Services at Kingsley Center | 5093 Kingsley Drive
- Create and Connect at the Maker Space: 6-8 p.m. July 24; Downtown Library Makerspace | 800 Vine St.
- Accessibility for All: Celebrating Disability Pride and the ADA: 3-8 p.m. July 28; OTR Stillhouse | 316 Pike St.
- Disability Advocate Network and Hamilton County DD Services Pen to Policy: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 30; Price Hill Branch Library; 970 Purcell Ave.
Visit disabilitypridecincy.org for more information about all Cincinnati Pride events and to learn how to submit an event to the website. Printed copies of Disability Pride Cincy’s official schedule are also available at all Cincinnati Hamilton County Public Library branches.
Above and Below: Speakers from the City of Cincinnati and different disability services organizations at the Disability Pride Flag Raising at City Hall on July 1.
Participating Disability Pride Cincy organizations include: Hamilton County Developmental Disabilities Services; LADD, Inc.; Hamilton County government; ArtsWave; The Bridge Adaptive; City of Cincinnati; Cincinnati Accessibility Board of Advisors; Cincinnati Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired; Cincinnati May Festival; Cincinnati Museum Center; Cincinnati Opera; Cincinnati Public Library; Cincinnati ToolBANK; Council on Aging; Down Syndrome Association of Greater Cincinnati; Easterseals Redwood; Empower Me Living; Envision; FotoFocus; Goodwill; Human Services Chamber of Hamilton County; Independence Alliance; Over-the-Rhine International Film Festival, organized by LADD; PONES; Pro Seniors; Skate Downtown Cincy; Taft Museum of Art; Toward Independence; University of Cincinnati Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities; University of Cincinnati Intellectual and Developmental Disability Education Center; Wave Pool; and Visionaries + Voices.
