Every July, Disability Pride Month gives me an opportunity to reflect on how far we’ve come and how much work remains. This year feels a little different.
Professionally, I’ve spent this year leading accessibility projects, mentoring new accessibility professionals, and working directly with organizations that genuinely want to build better digital experiences. Every customer who asks thoughtful questions, every developer willing to learn, and every intern who grows into a more confident tester reminds me that accessibility is ultimately about people.
Personally, disability has never been just something I advocate for. It’s something I live every day. I’m AuDHD (autistic with ADHD) and live with chronic pain. I’m also the parent of a disabled adult son who continues to navigate a job market that wasn’t built with disability in mind.
Why Accessibility Matters
Those experiences shape how I approach accessibility. Standards like the ADA and WCAG matter because they create accountability. However, compliance has never been the finish line.
The real goal is making sure people with disabilities can fully participate in every aspect of life, including education, employment, healthcare, shopping, government services, and community.
As someone who spends every day helping organizations build more accessible products, I’m reminded that our work isn’t simply about removing barriers. It’s about creating opportunities for disabled people to learn, work, create, connect, and lead.
Progress Isn’t Guaranteed
Thirty-six years after the Americans with Disabilities Act became law, we’ve made meaningful progress. At the same time, recent developments remind us that progress requires continued attention and advocacy.
This year, the compliance deadlines for the ADA Title II digital accessibility rule were extended by one year. The Department of Health and Human Services also delayed the Section 504 web and mobile accessibility compliance deadlines for organizations it regulates.
While these decisions give organizations more time to prepare, they don’t change the reality that millions of people with disabilities need accessible digital experiences today. Accessibility shouldn’t be driven solely by a compliance calendar. It’s about ensuring equal access every day.
Disability-Led Innovation
Fortunately, there are countless examples of disabled people leading innovation and creating positive change.
One story that particularly inspired me was Small Talk ASL, an interactive American Sign Language learning app created by former Disney animator Josh Staub in collaboration with Deaf creators. Even more inspiring was their commitment to keep the app free forever because communication should never depend on someone’s ability to pay.
I was equally moved by chef Lay Alston’s story in The New York Times. After a spinal cord injury changed her life, she returned to her first love: bringing people together around a meal. Rather than seeing disability as the end of her career, she reimagined what hospitality could look like and continues building community around food.
These aren’t stories about “overcoming” disability. They’re stories about disabled people shaping the world through their expertise, creativity, lived experience, and leadership.
Looking Ahead
Disability Pride Month isn’t just about celebrating disability. It’s about recognizing the contributions disabled people make every day in our workplaces, schools, communities, and culture. Accessibility isn’t the end goal. Participation is.
When we build accessible products, services, and experiences, we create opportunities for disabled people to learn, work, create, connect, and lead. That’s how we move beyond compliance and build a world where disability is recognized as a source of expertise, innovation, and strength. I’m proud to do this work, and even prouder to be part of the disability community.
Happy Disability Pride Month, and happy 36th anniversary to the ADA. Let’s keep listening to disabled voices, learning from disabled creators, and building a world where everyone belongs.
