July is Disability Pride Month, and today, July 26th, is Disability Pride Day, when we commemorate the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990. According to the CDC, almost 1 in 4 adults in the United States are affected by a disability, and 29%, or 1 in 3 adults in Alaska, are affected by a disability.
The ADA was the result of the long and hard work of many disabled activists. The ADA established four key outcomes for people with disabilities: equal opportunity, independent living, full participation, and economic self-sufficiency. It put protections in place for many disabilities in workplaces, schools, and public buildings, making a huge step toward increased accessibility to society and equality for all people.
Even with the ADA, we still have a long way to go. A 2022 and 2023 investigation by the Department of Justice found that the Division of Elections in Alaska was in violation of the ADA. It found that “Alaska discriminates on the basis of disability” after complaints that alleged that “accessible voting machines that would allow persons with disabilities to vote privately and independently, were either unavailable at voting sites, or if available, they did not work.” This is one of many areas that we must improve so that every Alaskan, regardless of their disability, has full access to the ballot.
While we advocate for change to ensure all Alaskans have equal rights under the law, we are also joyfully celebrating the members of our community who have been historically marginalized because their disability.
Disability Pride aims to replace historically enforced shame around disabilities with pride in our individual differences and diversity. It is also a time for all of us to reflect upon the ways in which we make our community either more disabling or more accessible.
The ACLU of Alaska’s Queer and Trans Justice Program has intentionally prioritized accessibility and strategies for inclusion that can be replicated throughout all our programs.
Some of the ways we have prioritized accessibility for all have been by:
- Sharing schedules of events ahead of time, including estimated times for each section, to help reduce anxiety, let people prepare as they need, and to assist attendees in planning around the event.
- Including captions on our videos so that those with hearing impairments can engage with them.
- Getting consent from participants before taking videos or photos which may be shared publicly and include identifiable personal features, so people are able to assess their own comfort and safety needs and make informed decisions based off that information.
- Offering a “quiet corner” to allow a rest from high-stimulus environments.
- Building in breaks for refreshment, movement, coming and leaving as needed, and mental rest.
- Providing snacks and drinks with consideration of food allergies and sensitivities.
- Adjusting lighting, volume, and room set up as needed to provide more ideal environments for all.
- Hosting events in multiple locations/multiple towns to increase accessibility for those with limited time and transportation options.
- Asking about accommodations requests and food allergy and sensitivity information during registration, so we can fill in any accessibility gaps we have missed.
- Choosing event locations that are accessible for those with mobility impairments.
- Collecting feedback through a combination of anonymous and personal means, to ease anxieties and encourage sharing experiences and ideas that can help us improve.
- Continuing reading, listening, engaging with relevant media, and making documented adjustments that we can apply to future events.
We know that this is just a start and that we have work to do to be more accessible to all Alaskans. We are also working to implement:
- Translation, for in-person conversations and common printed materials.
- Online, printable resources to ease sharing and access of information across our state.
- Offering virtual and hybrid events for those who cannot attend activities in person.
- Improving our online accessibility.
- Participating in and organizing events in more locations for people who can’t make it to major hubs.
We can and will do much more to prioritize accessibility for all. We encourage you to consider ways you can make your own businesses, events, and activities accessible for all. Please share with us ways you prioritize accessibility in your spaces or let us know if you have suggestions for how we can improve accessibility at the ACLU of Alaska.
Check out these additional resources to learn more about Disability Pride.
ACLU National Disability Rights