Disability Pride Festival — taking place this year on July 26 at Warner Park — is an annual celebration of Madison’s disabled community. This year, as the nation marks the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a landmark civil rights law prohibiting discrimination based on disability, the event is also an opportunity to celebrate progress made and reflect on the future.
First held in 2013 at Brittingham Park, Disability Pride Festival started small and gained traction over the years, says Disability Pride Madison’s treasurer, Kate Moran. It’s grown over time: The 2025 festival features more than 70 exhibitors, a showcase of disabled performers and more kid-friendly activities than ever, including a parade by Forward! Marching Band and access to Warner Park’s accessible playground, which opened in 2023.
“It’s so important that children with disabilities see adults with disabilities,” Moran says. “I’ve read stories where people said they thought that people with disabilities magically disappeared when they grew up.”
Representation is crucial for both children and adults. In recent years, there’s been a positive trend: Moran points to the casting of Marissa Bode, a disabled actress who hails from Mazomanie, as Nessarose in 2024’s “Wicked” as an uplifting example of individuals with disabilities making waves in popular culture. (Bode was the first wheelchair user to be cast in the role.)…