The City of Madison will host its second Disability Pride Flag Raising Ceremony to commemorate the 36th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on Wednesday, July 8, at 11:30 a.m. in front of the Madison Municipal Building in downtown Madison.
The ceremony and news conference will feature Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway, Alder Dina Nina Martinez-Rutherford, disability advocates and community leaders. July is nationally recognized as Disability Pride Month.
“The disability community is a valuable part of Madison,” says Alder Dina Nina Martinez-Rutherford in a statement. “With the growing threats of defunding disability services and possible institutionalization from our federal government, it is crucial that we vocally affirm who we are as a city. I will work to ensure that we are a city where dignity is not negotiable, and where everyone who calls Madison home knows they belong here.”
Rebecca Hoyt, Disability Rights and Services Specialist for the City of Madison, and Nicki Vander Meulen, MMSD school board member and disability rights advocate, will also speak at the news conference.
“At a time when legislatures seek to push us back to institutions, health agencies seek to cure, and institutions bury our histories, we must exist together in bold audacious pride,” says Hoyt.
The ceremony will honor the strength and resilience of the disability community while highlighting Madison’s commitment to equity, inclusion, and accessibility for all residents, according to a press release from the City of Madison. The ceremony is free, and all are welcome. American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation will be provided.
