Disability rights have advanced significantly over the past 40 years—many children with disabilities are fully included in school classrooms; city sidewalks feature curb cuts and public buildings are ramped; interpreters are routinely provided to deaf/hoh patients; and service dogs are welcomed in businesses with their handlers. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other civil rights laws have begun to level the playing field.

However, many Americans still don’t understand or treat disability as a civil and human rights issue. Media narratives characterize disability rights laws as burdensome and unnecessary, the importance of accessibility is frequently downplayed, and the people that challenge and enforce disability rights laws are regularly characterized as opportunistic.

The Disability Media Alliance Project (DMAP) is embarking on a #ThankYouADA social media campaign on Tuesday, July 26, 2022, to create a space for counter-storytelling and counter-narratives that elevate disabled voices, perspectives, and experiences, and challenge existing narratives that devalue and oppress our community. We envision a world where the face of disability in the media is not villainized, infantilized, or objectified for pity or inspiration porn.

Join us in this important campaign, by flooding social media with YOUR stories about the importance of access and the ADA. We can’t think of a better way to celebrate the 32nd anniversary of the ADA and Disability Pride Month!

Please spread the word on your socials!

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Tweet Samples

CELEBRATE WITH US! We have joined @DisabilityMap to honor the end of #DisabilityPrideMonth and the #ADA32 anniversary by amplifying #Disabled voices by sharing #MyADAStory #ThankYouADA

Celebrate by sharing your #MyADAStory! We have joined @DisabilityMap to celebrate #DisabilityPrideMonth and the #ADA32 anniversary by amplifying #Disabled voices. #ThankYouADA

DISABILITY RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS! We are celebrating #DisabilityPrideMonth and the #ADA32 anniversary with @DisabilityMap by amplifying #Disabled voices as they share their #MyADAStory. #ThankYouADA

Instagram/Facebook Text Samples

CELEBRATE WITH US! We have joined @DisabilityMap to celebrate #DisabilityPrideMonth and the #ADA32 anniversary by amplifying #Disabled voices. Disability rights are human rights. We want to hear from you! Post your #MyADAStory as we honor the last week of Disability Pride Month. #ThankYouADA

DISABILITY RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS. Share your #MyADAStory by tagging @DisabilityMap as we celebrate the last week of #DisabilityPrideMonth and honor the #ADA32 anniversary by amplifying #Disabled voices on what #DisabilityPride and the #ADA means to them. #ThankYouADA

DISABILITY RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed July 26, 1990 which became the first legal protection for basic civil rights for #PWD. We are celebrating the #ADA32 anniversary with @DisabilityMap to amplify #Disabled voices as they share #MyADAStory. Celebrate with us during the last week of #DisabilityPrideMonth by tagging @DisabilityMap with your #ThankYouADA story! #ThankYouADA

Questions? Email theagler@dredf.org