Our mission is to celebrate and empower the disability community by bringing people together to have fun and advocate for disability justice, building an inclusive world for all.

Disability Pride Philadelphia Inc was founded to make disability visible, celebrated, and centered in public life—starting with a simple but powerful idea: disabled people deserve joyful, accessible spaces to gather, be seen, and lead.

What began as a grassroots effort to host a Disability Pride celebration in Philadelphia has grown into one of the region’s most recognized disability-led public events. From its earliest gatherings, Disability Pride Philadelphia challenged the notion that disability advocacy must be quiet or confined to policy rooms. Instead, it brought disability pride into the heart of the city through accessible, public, and celebratory events that welcomed thousands of disabled people, families, allies, artists, and advocates.

Over time, the organization expanded its impact beyond a single annual event. Disability Pride Philadelphia became a hub for community connection, civic engagement, and cross-disability leadership. Its programming has consistently prioritized access—ASL interpretation, live captioning, sensory-friendly spaces, accessible routes, and inclusive design—demonstrating what true access looks like when disabled people are in charge.

As the work grew, so did its role in advocacy. Disability Pride Philadelphia increasingly served as a bridge between the disability community and public systems, using events and gatherings as entry points for civic participation, dialogue, and systems change. These efforts helped highlight gaps in accessibility while modeling solutions rooted in lived experience.

Today, Disability Pride Philadelphia Inc stands as both a celebration and a catalyst. It is a trusted convener, an advocate for equitable public space, and a visible reminder that disability culture belongs in our cities. Its evolution reflects a broader movement—one that recognizes disability not as something to accommodate after the fact, but as a vital part of community life, leadership, and democracy.