Written by Colleen Floyd, RCPD Access Specialist
In 2023, the Office for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion (IDI), in partnership with the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities (RCPD), designated October as Disability Pride Month at Michigan State University (MSU). Nationally, we celebrate Disability Pride Month in July to honor the ADA being signed into law. However, within the context of a university, most students, and many staff/faculty are not present to engage in related programming. By MSU designating October as the institution’s Disability Pride Month, we can connect with a wider audience. This month includes recognition for National Disability Employment Awareness Month, Down Syndrome Awareness Month and World Mental Health, among others. MSU is dedicated to celebrating the accomplishments of disabled people and furthering advocacy.
Last year, this historical move was honored through the creation of IDI’s Disability Pride Guide. This guide offers information on the various MSU events, people, and organizations doing disability work. Additionally, it provides educational resources that users can connect with to further their understanding of disability.
Going forward, MSU’s Disability Pride Month hopes to follow the model of IDI’s heritage months. We hope that entities across campus can utilize this designated month to organize around disability and promote disability pride and culture at MSU.
In 2024, organizers worked with campus partners to provide events and various avenues for the celebration of MSU’s Disability Pride Month. This year, the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities, University Health and Wellbeing, MSU Libraries, MSU Recreational Sports and Fitness Services, HIVES, MSU Adaptive Sports & Recreation Club, Council of Students with Disabilities all participated and hosted various programming.
See below for the many disability pride events and programs that filled the month of October:
- September 20: 1st Annual Disability in Higher Education Summit
Put on by The Office for Civil Rights, Title IX Education and Compliance's, Office of the ADA Coordinator, University Health and Wellbeing Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities, MSU Libraries, and the Office of Employee Relations - October 5: Adaptive Sports Day
Put on by the Council of Students with Disabilities, MSU Recreational Sports and Fitness Services, and MSU Adaptive Sports & Recreation Club - October 7: Disability Justice with Lydia X.Z. Brown—A virtual speaker event that discussed Disability Justice with Lydia X.Z. Brown, a prominent figure in the disability community.
Hosted by The Council of Students with Disabilities and the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities - October 10: Love, Simeon—a motion-picture performance that conjures a portal to Simeon – a rhesus macaque in a primate testing facility.
Hosted by HIVES - October 10: Disability Bingo—student focused event during one of CSD’s general body meetings
Put on by the Council of Students with Disabilities - October 17: Universal Access: Accessibility in the Library World
This exhibit, curated by the Michigan State University Libraries’ Accessibility and User Experience units, showcases the MSU Libraries’ commitment to accessibility, demonstrated through its collections and archives, assistive technologies and equipment, and spaces. This exhibit also provides interactive sensory experiences via the sound dome and tactile table.
Hosted by MSU Libraries - October 22: Disability Zine Making Workshop
Put on by MSU Libraries - October 25: Alex’s Great State Race—Alex’s Great State Race (AGSR) is a 10-year tradition that reflects the Michigan State University and University of Michigan’s rivalry in a new light. Both institutions work together to bring awareness to a worthy cause that benefits both universities and addresses the fundamental reason they exist: To make quality education accessible to all.
Hosted by Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities together with University of Michigan Student Accessibility and Accommodation Services
In addition to the many events across campus, Strange Matter Coffee, located in the MSU Union, added disability pride stickers to their to-go coffee cup orders as well as displayed an informational flyer of the month-long disability pride events within their store.
Disability Pride Month will continue to be recognized and celebrated each October at MSU and it is expected to grow and expand each year. Keep an eye out for future events and programming.
To learn more about MSU Disability Pride Month or to access the full Disability Pride Guide, visit this website: Disability Pride Guide | Institutional Diversity and Inclusion | Michigan State University.