National Disability Rights Network

How will you wear your disability pride? We've got some ideas! View our lookbook for inspiration on styling your new disability pride cap, mug, bag, or tee.

Disability Pride Month is almost over, but pride never stops. Be proud year round with our new merch! All proceeds fund disability advocacy. Order yours: http://bonfire.com/store/national-disability-rights-network.

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) is a landmark disability law. It requires businesses, employers, and government bodies to be accessible to people with disabilities. The act passed due to activism by people with disabilities, such as the Capitol Crawl.

When a place or service isn’t accessible, the ADA gives people with disabilities the power to sue. But many disabled people can’t afford or don’t have the time to file lawsuits. Many folks don't even know where to begin when navigating these systems.

That’s why Protection and Advocacy agencies (P&As) are so important. P&As enforce the ADA for people who can’t afford lawsuits.

But that’s only the beginning.

Many places focus only on compliance with the exact guidelines ADA. This results in people with disabilities only receiving the bare minimum accommodations.

So P&As also work to expand legislation for disability rights. Because people with disabilities deserve access to all the supports they need to live equitable, fulfilling lives in their community.

Eugenics and ableist language become more common every day. Powerful people suggest that people with disabilities are less valuable, important, or worthy.

People with disabilities are NOT:

❌ problems to be solved.
❌ burdens on society.

We ARE:

✅ problem-SOLVERS.
✅ valuable PARTICIPANTS in society.

This is why disability pride is more important than ever. Disability Pride Month is one way to resist messages of ableism and eugenics.

As Elizabeth Campos of Disability Rights California says, “Disabled people deserve to be seen, heard, and celebrated exactly as we are."

Disabled people don’t just deserve to survive. We deserve to thrive. This month, we celebrate all the ways that people with disabilities thrive in the face of countless challenges.

Tell us: why does disability pride matter to you? 💬

disAbility Law Center of Virginia
Disability Rights Louisiana

Want to fund disability rights AND show off your values? Check out the new designs in the NDRN merch store! 🛍️

https://www.bonfire.com/store/national-disability-rights-network

Designed by and for people with disabilities, these items are love letters to community living, disabled activism, and the diversity of the disability community.

The best part: 100% of the profits help our network defend disability rights. When you buy these designs, you fund:

📣 policy advocacy,
⚖️ legal support, and
🔏 protections for people with disabilities.

Colorful merch AND disability rights funds? It's a win-win!

Spread messages of disabled leadership, anti-ableism, and disability pride with the new NDRN merch releases. Order today: https://www.bonfire.com/store/national-disability-rights-network

PAID INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITY: Are you a rural Missourian who relies on Medicaid? We want to hear from you! 📣

We’re working on two short documentary-style videos about the importance of Medicaid in rural communities.

As part of this project, we’re looking to interview individuals located in rural areas outside of St. Louis, Missouri who are either:

🎤 people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) who receive Medicaid,
🏡 family members or caretakers of people with I/DD on Medicaid, or
🏥 healthcare workers who support people with I/DD.

Interviews will take no more than 2 hours. Participants will be paid a flat fee for their time. Filming will take place August 4th - 6th.

Interested?

People with I/DD: fill out the form at tinyurl.com/NDRN-medicaid.

Family members, caretakers, and healthcare workers in rural Missouri: contact us at [email protected]!

NOTE: For our purposes, intellectual or developmental disabilities can include, but are not limited to: Autism Spectrum Disorder, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Developmental Delays, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, Fragile X Syndrome, Learning Disorders, ADHD, Tourette Syndrome, Epilepsy, Communication Disorders, Motor Disorders, Intellectual Disability and other Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Want to learn more about definitions for intellectual and developmental disabilities? Check out this resource from the Arc of South Carolina: https://www.arcsc.org/i-dd

Things feel heavy for the disability community right now. How do we find disabled hope, power, and joy this Disability Pride Month in the face of so many challenges?

At NDRN, we’re not just celebrating disabled joy this month. We’re focusing on supports, opportunities, and dignity for people with disabilities.

We will not stop fighting until all people with disabilities can live, work, learn, and receive care in their communities.

And you can join this fight.

NDRN works every day to:
1. make the disability community heard at the federal level,
2. keep people with disabilities in their communities, and
3. create a society free of barriers for people with disabilities.

When you give today, you protect disabled peoples’ seat at the policy table. You make “Nothing About Us, Without Us” a reality.

Be the power behind our advocacy. Give today: https://www.ndrn.org/donate/

The U.S. observes an anniversary this Saturday. For many people, we still have a long way to go to reach freedom and equality.

People with disabilities. Immigrants. Racially marginalized groups. Q***r communities. All of these communities constantly face challenges to their rights.

Today, we’re recognizing everyone waging the battle against ableism, racism, misogyny, and all forms of discrimination. We celebrate those working toward a new future. One where all people have the full rights, access, and support to be as independent (or interdependent) as they want.

Because no one is free until everyone is free.

This Pride Month, NDRN celebrates advocates throughout q***r and disabled history. These communities are intersectional. People with disabilities of all genders and sexualities have had roles within the disability justice movement, like Kitty Cone, Connie Panzarino and Dr. Bruce Voeller. We honor the contributions these individuals and many others have made to the movement, and stand in solidarity with all disabled people.