WHAT IS DISABILITY PRIDE MONTH?
July is Disability Pride Month! The Chicago Association of REALTORS® continues to celebrate the strength and diversity of our industry and organization. A disability is defined as a mental or physical impairment that limits one or more of life’s major activities, and an average of 1 in 4 Americans live with some form of disability. As we commemorate the 36th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act this year, we especially recognize the continued contributions of disabled Chicagoans to our society and to the real estate industry.
We elevate members and allies in the disability community, partner with organizations that serve disabled homebuyers and renters and continue to champion policies, accessible design standards and reasonable-accommodation practices that ensure every Chicagoan can build wealth and stability through homeownership, regardless of disability status.
Chicago’s role in disability justice and the long road to equitable housing
Chicago played a pivotal role in the modern disability-rights movement. In 1980, Access Living opened its doors as Chicago’s first Center for Independent Living and quickly became a hub for disability advocacy. A few years later, in 1985, activists led by Mike Ervin, together with attorneys including the Honorable Bob Gettleman, filed a civil-rights complaint against the Chicago Transit Authority demanding lifts on every CTA bus. After a 10-week trial, advocates won that case in 1988, and the Chicago victory helped propel the Americans with Disabilities Act across the finish line on July 26, 1990. From the very beginning, the movement’s demands stretched beyond transportation to jobs, education and housing — the dream of a barrier-free Chicago that the real estate industry continues to help build today.
As REALTORS®, we honor that legacy by working to ensure every Chicago neighborhood is open and accessible to everyone.
Why it’s Important to Celebrate Disability Pride Month
“…Every single person with a disability deserves to feel pride in themselves, because it is unequivocally justifiable and reasonable to be proud of being disabled. For us [those with disabilities], it’s a month to celebrate each other’s uniqueness and take pride in who we are. Because let’s not forget that being disabled makes us inherent problem solvers, innovative thinkers and gives us an ability to see the world through a unique and valuable lens.” – From The Valuable 500
National Fair Housing Alliance 2025 Fair Housing Trends Report
The NFHA’s annual Fair Housing Trends Report compiles complaint data from private nonprofit fair housing organizations, HUD, state and local FHAP agencies and the U.S. Department of Justice. In 2024, those agencies received and investigated 32,321 complaints of housing discrimination, and disability-related complaints accounted for the largest share at 54.59% (17,645 complaints), more than three times the next basis (race, at 15.58%). Most complaints arose in the rental market, with significant numbers also reported in home sales and mortgage lending.
Read the full National Fair Housing Alliance 2025 Trends report
Four Facts on Disability
- Disability rights are civil rights.
- A disability is defined as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.
- According to the CDC, more than 1 in 4 U.S. adults (28.7%) have some type of disability. The most common affect cognition, mobility, independent living, hearing, vision and self-care.
- Federal nondiscrimination laws require housing providers to grant requests for reasonable accommodations and modifications in housing, programs and activities.
ADDRESSING SOMEONE WITH A DISABILITY
When addressing someone or a group of people with a disability, is it appropriate to say “disabled people” or “people with disabilities?”
According to the Employer Assistance and Resources Network on Disability Inclusion, also known as EARN, “Person-first language emphasizes the person before the disability, for example, ‘person who is blind’ or ‘people with spinal cord injuries.’ Identity-first language puts the disability first in the description, e.g., ‘disabled’ or ‘autistic.’ Person-first or identity-first language is equally appropriate depending on personal preference. When in doubt, ALWAYS ask the person which they prefer.”
FIVE QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER DURING DISABILITY PRIDE MONTH
Forbes took a deeper look at Disability Pride Month and posed five questions to clarify what Disability Pride Month is and what it may have the potential to become, including:
“Is Disability Pride Month a good thing that should be more widely recognized and celebrated?“
“If done carefully and thoughtfully, Disability Pride Month has the potential to draw together some of the many ‘awareness days’ for specific diseases and conditions, while underscoring that there is a growing and evolving disability community with a positive, assertive outlook on living life with disabilities, unapologetically, and at peace…”
NAR RESOURCES & REPORTING A DISABILITY HOUSING VIOLATION OR DISCRIMINATION
To report any disability housing violation or any housing discrimination, visit HUD’s website.
Celebrations Throughout Chicago
The Mayor’s Office for People & Disabilities is proud to host, assist and attend accessible events of all kinds across the city of Chicago. View details here.
| July 8, 2026 | Chicago Theater Cultural Conversations: Disability Pride Month |
| July 25, 2026 | Disability Pride Parade |
| July 29, 2026 | Chicago Public Library A Musical Celebration of Disability Pride Month |
LEARN ABOUT THE DISABILITY PRIDE FLAG
The Disability Pride Flag was designed by Ann Magil in 2021. The flag features a black background with five different colored diagonal stripes, each representing a different group of disabilities:
The Black Background: Represents the disabled people who have lost their lives not only to their illness but also to negligence, suicide and eugenics.
Each color on the flag represents a different aspect of disability or impairment:
- Red: Physical disabilities
- Yellow: Cognitive and intellectual disabilities
- White: Invisible and undiagnosed disabilities
- Blue: Mental illness
- Green: Sensory perception disabilities
Organizations to Explore and Support
The organizations below offer helpful resources, education and opportunities to get involved. Whether you’re looking to learn more, support ongoing work or take action in your community, these groups are a great place to start.