The ADA National Network was started in 1991, providing information, guidance, and training on the implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for all sectors of the community. The ADA National Network provides online training for governments, disability organizations, and individuals. They are affordable and provide a deeper understanding of Disability Rights, and more.

Disability Pride Month is celebrated each July, coinciding with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) becoming law on July 26, 1990. PBS produced a documentary collection exploring the history of the disability rights movements and key activists along the way.

Flags are important symbols of unity, providing a bold icon for the community to connect under. The original Disability Pride flag was created by writer Ann Magill, who has cerebral palsy, in 2019. Since then, Ann has worked with the disability community to incorporate suggestions for the flag we see today. The colors in the flag represent:

• Red - physical disabilities

• Gold - neurodiversity

• White - invisible disabilities and disabilities that haven't yet been diagnosed

• Blue - emotional and psychiatric disabilities, including mental illness, anxiety, and depression

• Green - for sensory disabilities, including deafness, blindness, lack of smell, lack of taste, audio processing disorder, and all other sensory disabilities

Cook County United Against Hate coalition partner, Hadley, was founded in 1920 by Willian Hadley, an educator who lost his eyesight later in life. In 2023, Hadley continues to offer practical help, connection, and support free of charge to anyone with visual impairment, their families, caregivers, and professionals that support them. Hadley offers resources and programming that meet learners exactly where they are.

Did you know that disability affects nearly 1 in 4 adults in the United States? This includes serious difficulty with mobility, cognition independent living, hearing, or vision just to name a few. Disability inclusion entails identifying barriers that potentially impact people with disabilities to independently live and be fully engaged in their communities. Every community member can make a difference in addressing those barriers.

Activist, organizer, and disabled Latina Daphne Frias has cultivated a thoughtful list of books to be enjoyed whether you are a part of the disabled community or not. The list is designed so that it gradually immerses readers in the evolving and dynamic world of disability.