Photo from the Disability Pride Parade on July 26th at the New Hampshire State House.
On Saturday, July 26, the lawn of the New Hampshire State House was alive with music, color, and powerful voices as people gathered for the annual Disability Pride Parade, organized by ABLE NH. This year’s celebration carried special significance, marking two major milestones in the disability rights movement: 35 years of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and 50 years of the Developmental Disabilities Act (DD Act).
“Disability Pride is about celebrating diversity. It’s about that internal spark, that moment of realizing, I am who I am, and there’s nothing wrong with me,” said Dr. Louis Esposito, Executive Director of ABLE NH. “Many people try to distance themselves from the disability label because of how negatively it’s viewed. But pride challenges that. It says disability can be part of you, and it's something that we should be celebrating,” he added.
These two landmark civil rights laws have played a transformative role in expanding access, equity, and opportunity for people with disabilities across the United States. The ADA, signed into law in 1990, prohibited discrimination and mandated accessibility in public spaces, schools, transportation, and employment. The DD Act, passed in 1975, provides federal funding for community-based services and reaffirms the right of people with developmental disabilities to live fully integrated, self-determined lives.
“Disability Pride is about celebrating diversity. It’s about that internal spark, that moment of realizing, I am who I am, and there’s nothing wrong with me . . . Many people try to distance themselves from the disability label because of how negatively it’s viewed. But pride challenges that. It says disability can be part of you, and it’s something that we should be celebrating”
Celebrating Disability Pride and Youth Leadership
The event began with a parade down Main Street and culminated in a lively festival on the State House lawn, where disability pride took center stage. This year’s theme emphasized youth leadership, with young people sharing personal stories about what disability means to them and how they navigate identity, inclusion, and advocacy.
Among the speakers were Noah, a recent high school graduate entering college; Sawyer, a performer with Broadway Bound Performing Arts Academy; Katie, a pageant contestant and disability speaker; Tyler, a high school sophomore who uses an Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) device and spoke alongside his mentor, Kathy Bates; and Alexander Dubois, a special education teacher with autism who is running for his local school board.
“We wanted the personalized voice of youth with lived experience sharing their truth,” shared Dr. Esposito. “If someone in the crowd is apprehensive, scared, or nervous about sharing their disability, and they see someone their age talking about pride in their disability, that can be life-changing.”
Paradegoers enjoyed sensory-friendly spaces, mental health support, activities geared toward children and families, as well as a guide dog kissing booth brought by the New Hampshire Guide Dog Society. Partner booths featured information about voting and civic engagement, Medicaid access, inclusive education, and housing rights. The New Hampshire Center for Justice and Equity (NHCJE) participated with a booth, handing out information and stickers from the Icon Series honoring Judith Heumann. Positive Street Art was present with an interactive ADA-themed art project.
The event was supported by NHCJE and several local and statewide community partners, including CSNI (Community Support Network, Inc.), Disability Rights Center–NH, NH Charitable Foundation, Moms Rising, Granite Leaf Cannabis, Engage New Hampshire, UNH Institute on Disability, NH Children’s Trust, NH Outright, Northeast Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services, Healing Roots, Connections All Ways, and DHHS Division for Children Youth and Families.
“We wanted the personalized voice of youth with lived experience sharing their truth. If someone in the crowd is apprehensive, scared, or nervous about sharing their disability, and they see someone their age talking about pride in their disability, that can be life-changing.”
Building Inclusive Systems and Communities
As the lead organizer of the event, ABLE NH reinforced its broader mission to build lasting equality in the Granite State. The member-based grassroots organization is working to promote full participation in society by improving systems, connecting families, inspiring communities, and advocating for policies relating to education, healthcare, housing, transportation, and civic engagement.
“We’re working to make New Hampshire more inclusive across every part of life,” explained Dr. Esposito. “We’re pushing for systemic change so that people with disabilities can not only access essential services, but fully participate in their communities. Whether it’s going to the movies, running for office, or joining a school athletic team,” he added.
“We’re working to make New Hampshire more inclusive across every part of life. We’re pushing for systemic change so that people with disabilities can not only access essential services, but fully participate in their communities.”
Dr. Esposito, who spent years as an educator and recently completed a doctorate focused on disability identity in higher education, emphasized the importance of shifting away from the medical model of disability, where difference is seen as a something to fix, toward a social model that recognizes barriers are created by inaccessible systems, not people’s bodies or minds.
“Disability is part of human diversity,” Dr. Esposito noted. “We feel strongly that it's not the individual that is at fault, it’s the systems that we have in place that fail to include everyone.”
He offered a simple example: “If someone can’t reach the top shelf at the grocery store because they're in a wheelchair, the problem isn’t their disability; the item is just too far out of place.”
This idea is at the heart of universal design, the concept that when environments and tools are built to be accessible, everyone benefits. Sidewalk ramps also help parents with strollers, automatic doors assist anyone with their hands full, and video captions support not just those with hearing impairments, but also people in noisy or quiet environments. Inclusive design isn’t just an accommodation for people with disabilities; it improves access for us all.
“Disability is part of human diversity. We feel strongly that it’s not the individual that is at fault, it’s the systems that we have in place that fail to include everyone.”
Challenging Prejudiced Assumptions
The dialogue around Disability Pride also aims to educate people about ableism, which Dr. Esposito described as “discrimination or prejudice against people with disabilities, whether it’s overt or subtle, intentional or unintentional.”
Sometimes even well-meaning language or actions can be rooted in harmful assumptions. “Ableism shows up in small, everyday ways,” said Dr. Esposito. “It’s when people talk down to you, say that you have ‘special needs,’ assume you don’t understand, or rush to help without asking.”
This mindset limits people more than their actual disabilities ever could. Beyond inclusive design and inclusive communities where everyone can fully participate, equity means that everyone is treated equally. “People with disabilities don't want to be seen as inspiring,” shared Dr. Esposito. “They just want to be seen for who they are as humans.”
“People with disabilities don’t want to be seen as inspiring. They just want to be seen for who they are as humans.”
Celebrating Progress, Organizing Future Action
This year’s Disability Pride Parade was not only a celebration of how far the disability community has come, building on the legacy of the ADA and DD Act, but a reminder of the work ahead. “This event highlights all the work that people have done in the past, the work that we're doing right now, and the work that we need to do in the future,” said Dr. Esposito.
Some of that future work is urgent. Proposed legislation in New Hampshire threatens to cut funding for essential programs, with far-reaching consequences that could limit access to education, healthcare, and community participation, making it even harder for people with disabilities to fully engage in civic life.
“Disability Pride reminds us that people with disabilities deserve to be seen, heard, and valued,” concluded Dr. Esposito. “We’re not just fighting for rights—we’re building a better, more inclusive New Hampshire.”
“Disability Pride reminds us that people with disabilities deserve to be seen, heard, and valued. We’re not just fighting for rights—we’re building a better, more inclusive New Hampshire.”
About Louis Esposito
Louis Esposito
Louis has been serving people with disabilities professionally for over a decade in the fields of special education, supported employment, and community integration. Louis holds degrees in History and Education from Southern New Hampshire University. He is currently a doctoral candidate in Educational Leadership at Southern New Hampshire University, with his dissertation focusing on “Identity Positioning through the High School Transition Process for Students with Autism Enrolled in Higher Education.” His research emphasizes the critical role of inclusive educational practices in supporting the identity development of students with autism and aims to influence policy and practice to promote more personalized and supportive transition planning for students with disabilities.