Keisha Greaves is the founder of Girls Chronically Rock, an adaptive fashion consultant, and a self-advocate. In a new blog series, Keisha will share her story, as well as her perspective on key issues for the disability community. In this entry, Keisha reflects on the legacy of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Disability Pride Month.
When President George H.W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26, 1990, he said, “Let the shameful wall of exclusion finally come tumbling down.”
And it did, at least in part.
The ADA gave us legal protections in employment, public spaces, transportation, communication, and more. It made accessibility a right, not a favor. It forced institutions to think differently. And it gave so many people the language and legal backing to demand access, not beg for it.
But, let’s be real, that wall? It’s still there in places. Crumbling, maybe. But not gone.
We still face:
- Inaccessible housing and transit
- Healthcare that doesn’t listen or adapt
- Workplaces that say “diversity” but mean “not you”
- Schools that don’t accommodate kids who learn differently
Events and spaces that exclude, whether intentionally or by neglect
So yes, we celebrate. But we also stay clear-eyed. The ADA cracked the wall. We’re the ones tearing it all the way down.
We’ve Always Been Here, But Now, We’re Centering Ourselves
One of the best parts of Disability Pride Month in 2025? The community.
We are organizing like never before. Disabled people, especially folks of color, LGBTQ+ folks, youth, elders, immigrants, are leading conversations and movements. We’re creating art, designing fashion, shaping policy, building tech, running businesses, and reimagining what access can look like. We’re not waiting to be included anymore. We’re making the table. And with 35 years of the ADA behind us, this July isn’t just a celebration, it’s a statement: We are proud. We are powerful. We are whole. And we are just getting started.
It’s More Than a Law. It’s About Living Fully.
The ADA is legal. But Disability Pride is deeply personal.
It’s the first time you see yourself represented in a campaign or a role model. It’s when a ramp is built and you finally get through the front door without asking for the back entrance. It’s having your pronouns and your access needs respected at the same time. It’s being in community with people who get you without you having to explain everything. For me, it’s wearing my “Girls Chronically Rock” tee, rolling into a room with my head high, and knowing I’m allowed to take up space, joyfully, boldly, without apology.
What the Next 35 Years Should Look Like
Okay, we’ve celebrated. We’ve reflected. Now what? Here’s what I dream of for the next 35 years:
- Healthcare that’s actually accessible, affordable, and affirming
- Disabled people leading in politics, tech, fashion, media, everywhere
- True inclusive education from early childhood through college
- More employment opportunities, fewer systemic barriers
- Better representation in entertainment and media
- Accessible public transit, housing, and events, by default
- An end to poverty, isolation, and ableism, in all its forms
- More love, more rest, more community care, more joy
Because we deserve that. Not just survival. Not just “good enough.” But thriving.
This Month Is for Us, All of Us
So if you’re disabled and proud, this month is for you. If you’re disabled and still figuring it out, this month is for you, too. If you’ve been told to hide your needs, shrink your truth, or “just be grateful,” you don’t have to do that anymore. You never did. This month, and every month, you get to be whole. You get to dance in the streets with your mobility aid. You get to say “no” to spaces that don’t see you. You get to speak up. You get to rest. You get to own your story. Because 35 years ago, people believed in a better future. And today, we are that future.
Here’s to 35 years of the ADA.
Here’s to the past that shaped us.
Here’s to the present that challenges us.
And here’s to a future where disability is not just accepted, but celebrated.