What Does Disability Pride Month Mean to Me?

Submitted by Conor Heybach, member of the Adults with PWS Advisory Board

Disability Pride Month is truly a month to be celebrated. This month we celebrate the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26th, 1990. The law protects individuals with disabilities against discrimination in many areas of life. The law guarantees that people with disabilities have the same  opportunities as everyone else.

Throughout my life, ADA has empowered me to advocate for myself and others. I am proud to say that I advocated for myself when I was going to college. My college provided a help center for people with disabilities. The Center provided the opportunity for students with disabilities to have extended time on all quizzes and exams. On the first day of class, you hand your professor in your Accommodations Form which guarantees you the opportunity to take your quizzes and exams outside of the classroom. My Spanish professor refused to accept my accommodations and told me that I don’t allow my quizzes and exams to leave the classroom. After class was over, I went directly to the Foreign Language Department and spoke directly to the Dean of the Department and advocated for myself. I developed a good relationship with the Dean. Several days later, the Dean of the Foreign Language Department placed me in a different Spanish class. The next day, my former Spanish professor was terminated for breaking the law under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Disability Pride Month has empowered me to educate others about PWS and advocate on Capitol Hill and to continue to advocate at the state level for disability rights and different drug treatments. Disability Pride has empowered me to be an Advocate for PWS and for the Disability Community. ADA has helped shape the future for the rights of individuals with disabilities.