I hope you are enjoying the warmer days of July in the beautiful Pacific Northwest! I like to take a walk in a park with a friend and smell the flowers, watch the birds and boats at the waterfront, or work in my P-Patch garden. I appreciate having a break from the rain clouds, and all of these activities make me mindful of what a special place we live in. This month also brings numerous events related to the Fourth of July and other celebrations. I’d like to highlight one in particular.
To commemorate this historic law, July is celebrated as Disability Pride Month, with events nationwide to encourage people with disabilities to take pride in who they are. The 2025 theme is “We Belong Here, and We’re Here to Stay.” The Arc, the largest national community-based organization advocating for and with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their families, has some great suggestions for celebrating Disability Pride Month, learning its history, and advocating for disability rights and inclusion.
Also in this issue, one of our Advisory Council members, Dr. Joel Domingo, has written an article describing his personal experience with a family member with a disability and what the ADA has meant for them…