Celebrating Disability Pride Month at NW Works

A decorative flyer is shown that reads, "July is Disability Pride Month!". There are three photos below this heading that show adults with disabilities enjoying program and community involvement at NW Works.

A young woman, Maddie, stands in a custodial closet with her custodial cart. She is in the process of unrolling a small white plastic trash bag sleeve. Maddie is a young woman with dirty blonde hair that is pulled back into a slicked back bun and she is wearing a maroon City t-shirt and a pair of jeans.

Two gentleman in orange safety vests are shown smiling at the camera as they lift a piece of cardboard into a bailing machine.

A group of participants at NW Works are shown smiling in front of a beach scene at a selfie station. The people are holding up various summer themed props.

A collage of photos showing different services at NW Works is shown. In the bottom left corner is the logo for the ADA 35th Anniversary which reads, "ADA 35, Celebrate July 26,2025. Americans with Disabilities Act." Each of these sentences is on a single line and is printed in red, blue or black ink and is slightly stylized.

A large group of participants at NW Works smile and stand for a photo. The photo is in black and white.

The graphic shows a charcoal grey flag with five diagonal stripes of muted colors (red, gold, white, blue, and green) from top left to bottom right, representing the diversity of disabilities and cutting across barriers within the disability community. On top of the flag is text that reads, "July is Disability Pride Month!" In the bottom left corner is the NW Works logo which is a white slanted capitalized N and W. Below this is the text "Works" in white and capitalized.

A middle aged woman stands in the middle of a white tile floor with a mop. She is in the process of cleaning the floor. Behind her is a coat rack, some chairs, and a photo of a German Shepherd with a U.S. flag background.

July is Disability Pride Month! At NW Works, we believe that people with disabilities deserve the opportunity to thrive. That's why we're committed to maximizing independence and promoting inclusivity in all aspects of life. This month, we're celebrating what it means to be proud, while also promoting the importance of disability awareness and education to build understanding and acceptance.

Disability Pride Month is held each July to commemorate the passing of the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) which became law 35 years ago. The ADA is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transporation, and all public and private places that are open to the general public. The purpose of the law is to make sure that people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else.

To commemorate Disability Pride Month, a disability pride flag was designed in 2019 by Ann Magill, a writer with cerebral palsy who felt a flag showing the importance and relevance of disability pride was long overdue. With community input, the original flag was redesigned and unveiled in a more accessible format in 2021. The flag features a black background and five horizontal stripes in different colors, each representing a type of disability. The colors were muted to improve accessibility for individuals with sensory sensitivities, seizures and migraines.

At NW Works, our commitment to the people we serve remains strong through the diverse services we offer ranging from job training and supported employment to community activity programs and our Group Day Support services. Through our participation in the AbilityOne Program, we proudly provide meaningful employment opportunities through federal contracts.

Whether it's in custodial services, volunteering at the Knights of Columbus Food Pantry, preparing meals for students at Shenandoah University in Aramark's kitchen, or maximizing independence through life skills lessons, the people we serve are breaking down barriers and feeling supported.

Join us in celebrating Disability Pride Month by sharing your own stories of pride using #DisabilityPrideMonth. Let's come together to amplify the voices of people with disabilities and create a world where everyone can thrive and take pride in who they are.