AGENDA ITEM #6.d
Proclamation in Recognition of
DISABILITY PRIDE MONTH, JULY 2026
WHEREAS, July marks Disability Pride Month, a time to celebrate the identities, contributions, and civil rights of people with disabilities, and to honor the progress and ongoing struggle for equity, inclusion, and accessibility, reminding us that disability rights are human rights and that people with disabilities are vital members of every community, including our own; and
WHEREAS, on July 26, 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law, establishing landmark federal civil rights protections for people with disabilities and prohibiting discrimination in employment, public accommodations, transportation, housing, and other critical areas of public life; and
WHEREAS, the year 2026 marks the 36th anniversary of the ADA, a transformative law that has improved the lives of millions of Americans by removing barriers, promoting community integration, and ensuring equal opportunity; and WHEREAS, people with disabilities — whether their disabilities are visible or invisible; physical, sensory, cognitive, developmental, psychiatric, or acquired — reflect the full diversity of our community across age, race, gender, class, and cultural identity, and their experiences, creativity, agency, and expertise strengthen the fabric of Fairfax; and
WHEREAS, Disability Pride is not only about visibility but also about belonging: affirming that disabled people are an essential part of our community, and that our policies and practices must not simply accommodate disability but celebrate and center it; and WHEREAS, disability justice calls on local government to go beyond legal compliance toward a cultural shift that recognizes people with disabilities as valued community members, and honors the long history of disability activism — including here in the Bay Area, a birthplace of the independent living movement — that has advanced disability rights for all; and
AGENDA ITEM #6.d
WHEREAS, the Town of Fairfax is committed to ensuring that its public meetings, facilities, parks, programs, streets, and community events are accessible and welcoming to residents and visitors of all abilities, and to partnering with disabled community members in the ongoing work of removing barriers to full participation in civic life; and
WHEREAS, the County of Marin has proclaimed July 2026 as Disability Pride Month and reaffirmed its dedication to ongoing education, partnership with disabled communities, and the advancement of policies and programs that promote access, dignity, and justice, and the Town of Fairfax proudly joins the County and communities across the nation in this observance.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Council of the Town of Fairfax hereby proclaims July 2026 as Disability Pride Month in the Town of Fairfax, celebrates the contributions and leadership of people with disabilities in our community, reaffirms the Town’s commitment to access, dignity, inclusion, and justice for people of all abilities, and encourages all residents to participate in Disability Pride Month activities, celebrations, and learning opportunities throughout July.
Signed on this 22nd day of July 2026
Stephanie Hellman
Mayor of Fairfax