July is Disability Pride Month - Find out how you can participate!

Celebrated every July, Disability Pride Month is an opportunity to honor the history, achievements, experiences, and struggles of those with disabilities. This month promotes visibility and awareness of the issues affecting persons with disabilities, advocating for equal rights and opportunities. Disability Pride Month is an opportunity to challenge stigma, encourage inclusion, and embrace diversity. This month, join UBC IT and UBC IT’s Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) Committee in honoring the resilience and strength of individuals with disabilities, while committing to fostering a more inclusive community filled with diverse perspectives.

This July and beyond, we encourage you to enhance your disability-inclusion literacy through various resources and programs offered by the UBC Equity & Inclusion Office, Centre for Workplace Accessibility, and UBC Human Resources.

Three ways to become an active participant this July:

  1. Explore disability & accessibility literacy courses

    A variety of courses are offered through the Workplace Learning Ecosystem. These courses are designed to improve your understanding of disability, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in the workplace. Check out courses specific to disability and accessibility in the workplace or equity and inclusion.

  2. Demo ergonomic and accessibility equipment

    The ErgoAccess Demo Program allows staff and faculty to visit the Centre for Workplace Accessibility to try Ergonomic and Accessibility equipment. Exploring these resources can help you understand the tools available to support accessibility in your work environment. Check out the Ergonomic Accessibility Demo Program to request a demo.

  3. Book the Centre for Workplace Accessibility for team meetings or workshops

    The Centre for Workplace Accessibility (CWA) is available for team meetings or workshops to discuss accessibility support at UBC. This is a great opportunity to learn more about how your department can foster an inclusive environment. You can schedule an accessibility consultation to discuss any disability-related projects or processes specific to your department. To book a consultation or meeting, email the CWA at workplace.accessibility@ubc.ca.

Additional Resources

  1. Inclusive vs Accessible – Workplace Accommodation Guide

    Understand the differences and overlaps between inclusivity and accessibility in the workplace with this comprehensive guide: Workplace Accommodation Guide.

  2. UBC Accessibility Committee

    Learn about UBC's initiatives to promote accessibility across the university. The UBC Accessibility Committee is dedicated to improving accessibility for all members of the UBC community: UBC Accessibility Committee.

  3. Guide to Accessible and Inclusive Communications and Events

    Plan your events and communications with accessibility and inclusivity in mind using this guide from UBC Equity and Inclusion Office: Guide to Accessible and Inclusive Communications and Events.

  4. Understanding the Disability Pride Flag 

    Learn about the symbolism of the Disability Pride Flag and explore additional resources to support your understanding and celebration of Disability Pride Month: Disability Pride Flag and Resources.

Disability Pride Month is a time to celebrate the resilience, achievements, and contributions of the community while also recognizing the work that still needs to be done to achieve true accessibility and inclusion. By utilizing the resources provided by UBC and beyond, we can enhance our disability-inclusion literacy, support our colleagues and peers, and continue to build a more inclusive and equitable environment for all.

Article written by Ananya Gupta