AGENDA ITEM #19
TOWN OF FAIRFAX PROCLAMATION
DISABILITY PRIDE MONTH 2024
WHEREAS, July is Disability Pride Month, a time to celebrate the achievements, contributions, and resilience of individuals with disabilities, and to promote inclusion, acceptance, and understanding of disability as a natural part of human diversity; and
WHEREAS, The Americans with Disabilities Act is groundbreaking legislation passed by the United States Congress and signed into law on July 26, 1990, to ensure the civil rights of people with disabilities; and
WHEREAS, The Americans with Disabilities Act is recognized as one of the most important civil rights laws in history establishing protections to prevent discrimination based on disability, requiring that employers provide reasonable accommodations to employees with disabilities, and ensuring that public accommodations meet accessibility requirements; and WHEREAS, This year’s theme, which comes from The Arc’s National Council of Self-Advocates, is “We Want a Life Like Yours,” and The Arc states that the theme reflects “the disability community’s dreams for life experiences that are too often denied;” and WHEREAS, Disability Pride celebrations take place annually in cities around the country to increase the visibility of the diverse identities of people living with disabilities and foster thse continued movement to reclaim the public narrative and dismantle systemic ableism; and WHEREAS, Disability Pride enables people with disabilities to redefine their identity, serves as a tool to tackle ableism, bias, discrimination, and reshapes negative perceptions of individuals with disabilities as people with value, talents, and significance; and
WHEREAS, Despite extensive progress, people with disabilities continue to face barriers and challenges, including societal attitudes, built and architectural barriers, lack of accessibility, discrimination, and unequal opportunities; and
WHEREAS, it is essential to promote a society that embraces disability as an integral and valued part of human diversity, where all individuals are treated with dignity, respect, and equality, and where barriers to participation and inclusion are eliminated; and
WHEREAS, we appreciate the efforts of disability rights activists, organizations, and advocates who work tirelessly to advance the rights, independence, and well-being of individuals with disabilities, and to create a more inclusive and accessible world for all.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Town Council of the Town of Fairfax commemorates the 34th Anniversary of the American Disabilities Act and recognizes July as Disability Pride Month in the Town of Fairfax; and,
AGENDA ITEM #19
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Town Council of the Town of Fairfax celebrates the accomplishments of the ongoing movement for the rights of people with disabilities and commends the organizations and leaders advancing more equitable policies; and, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Town Council of the Town of Fairfax further commits to increasing accessibility for people with disabilities as it pertains to government services, engaging in the legislative process, and advancing representation on decision-making bodies, by allowing remote participation in meetings and hearings and prioritizing recruitment for city jobs and commissions.
Signed this 17th day of July 2024.
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Barbara Coler, Mayor of Fairfax