At Avenues, we stand with pride this month – Disability Pride Month – as we celebrate the strength, resilience, talent and humanity of people with disability.

Disability Pride Month isn’t about pretending everything is easy. It’s not about ignoring the barriers, the injustice, or the fights still ahead. It’s about saying: We are here. We matter. We belong.

What is Disability Pride?

Disability Pride began as a movement in the United States following the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990. But its message is universal. It’s about shifting the narrative from pity to power, from “what’s wrong?” to “what’s strong?”, and from hiding to being seen.

It’s about pride in identity, culture, history and community.

It’s about recognising that people with disability have always been creators, leaders, carers, innovators, workers, activists and trailblazers – not in spite of their disability, but with it and because of it.

What It Means at Avenues

Every day, we are lucky enough to walk alongside people who challenge assumptions and rewrite what’s possible. We see pride in small, quiet moments – confidence building over time, voices growing stronger, people choosing how they want to live their lives.

We see pride in big ways too – in jobs found, degrees earned, goals smashed, and boundaries pushed.

We also know that real pride comes when people feel safe and supported enough to be fully themselves. That’s why Avenues is committed to inclusion, access, and truly person-centred support – not just this month, but every day.

How You Can Celebrate Disability Pride Month

• Listen to lived experience. Follow and share content from people with disability.
• Challenge ableism. If you hear or see something discriminatory, call it out.
• Celebrate achievements. Uplift the voices and successes of people with disability in your community.
• Reflect on pride. Ask yourself: what does pride mean to me? What would it take for all of us to live proudly?

This month, we say thank you to our clients, staff, families, carers and advocates – and especially to people with disability leading the way.

We see you. We support you. We’re proud to stand with you.

Happy Disability Pride Month from all of us at Avenues.