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, people with disabilities make up a significant and valuable portion of our communities, and their unique perspectives, talents, and experiences enrich our society and contribute to our collective progress; and

WHEREAS, Disability Pride Month provides an opportunity to recognize and honor the accomplishments of individuals with disabilities in various fields, including education, employment, arts, sports, science, and advocacy; and

WHEREAS, Salt Lake City acknowledges the barriers and challenges faced by individuals with disabilities, 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; and

WHEREAS, the Disability Rights Movement has a long history in Salt Lake City, including the establishment of the Utah State Library for the Blind and Disabled in 1931 which houses the largest Braille library in the world and hosting the opening ceremonies to the first Winter Paralympics in the United States in 2002, marking the first time Paralympic athletes competed in the Winter Games in the United States; and

WHEREAS, Salt Lake City is one of the few U.S. cities to pass a closed captioning ordinance for places of public accommodation to improve access and inclusion for our residents and visitors who are deaf or hard of hearing, have cognitive disabilities, autism or sensory disabilities, are learning English as a second language, or are limited English proficient.

WHEREAS, the Salt Lake City Mayor’s Office, Salt Lake City Council, Salt Lake City Accessibility and Disability Commission, and several local organizations including the Disability Law Center, Disabled Rights Action Committee, Epilepsy Foundation of Utah, National Federation of the Blind of Utah, Utah Independent Living Center, Utah State Office of Rehabilitation, and many others provide support and advocacy for persons with disabilities.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Erin Mendenhall, Mayor of Salt Lake City, proclaim July 1, 2024, as:

Disability Pride Month in Salt Lake City

To view the electronically signed copy of the proclamation click here.