Peace, Love, and Inclusion: Disability Inclusion Months

(Photo courtesy of the Wall Street Journal): New York City citizens walk the streets of Manhattan for Disability Pride Month during the city’s first-ever event (July, 2015).

A Time Of Meaning:

Since 1933, disability commemorations have been held in varying months across different geographical regions, fostering massive participation and excitement for the cause. Best Buddies combines Disability Awareness Month with Best Buddies Month every March, though various other celebrations also occur during this special time.

For the 2025 seasonal year, Disability Employment Awareness Month will be held in October. NDEAM is all-encompassing, and oftentimes the month recognizes more than just disability employment within the community. Specifically, this month both symbolizes and appreciates the employment achievements of those with disabilities internationally.

The celebration also sheds light on the hardships and challenges that neurodivergent individuals have faced, while promoting inclusion and acceptance in society. It is a time for people with disabilities to celebrate their identities, culture, and contributions, reclaiming visibility in public spaces where they have often been excluded.

All Disability Pride Months aim to change the way people think about and define disability, ending stigma and promoting the idea that disability is a natural part of worldwide diversity. It’s a chance to raise awareness of the obstacles faced by those who are differently abled, as well as to advocate for equal rights and opportunities.

For NDEAM specifically, the month emphasizes the importance of creating inclusive workplaces where people with disabilities can fully participate and contribute. However, it is also a time to reflect on disability rights and the importance of making workplaces more accessible and inclusive.

Disability Pride Around The World:

In 2015, New York City held its inaugural Disability Pride Month celebration, coinciding with the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The event featured a parade through the streets of Manhattan in July 2015, marking a changing political and cultural climate in the United States.

Nearly 4,000 individuals showed up to represent the cause of inclusion at the celebration nearly ten years ago, which culminated in a showcase featuring the talents of the differently-abled community.

On the other side of the Atlantic, Brighton, England has become a home for inclusivity. ‘Disability Pride Brighton’ was ignited after a discrimination scandal came to light, and as more people began to speak about their experiences, a community was formed.

The first Disability Pride in Brighton was held in 2016 and has been held every year since. Around the world, various cities, townships, and states have embraced the cause of accessibility and the recognition of those with disabilities, creating their own celebratory months in beautifully unique ways.

How Best Buddies Celebrates:

Best Buddies International remarks that “What started in 1933 as a one-day event has become a month-long celebration promoting one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, inclusive living, and family support for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities…”

Best Buddies International has long been a powerhouse of inclusive activities, events, and festivities, cultivating a sense of community across hundreds of thousands of miles.

Best Buddies recommends different ways to celebrate inclusion, from participating in a regional Friendship Walk, wearing Best Buddies gear, pledging to spread inclusion, sharing a personal story about inclusion online, or even hiring a Best Buddies participant at your workplace. It is absolutely dedicated to helping those in need and highlighting the countless strengths and successes of individuals with IDD.

In friendship, 

Marlo Roberts

YLC Member, California