Honoring Disability Pride Month in Somerville

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne, the Somerville Commission for Persons with Disabilities (SCPD), and the Department of Racial and Social Justice (RSJ) invite all to a series of events this July to recognize Disability Pride Month and promote visibility, honor the contributions of people with disabilities, and foster an inclusive, empowered community. Highlights include the Disability Pride Flag Raising on Thursday, July 24 (NOTE: this event has was been moved from July 10 due to inclement weather); fun activities at the SCPD Art Beat Booth on Saturday, July 19; and a group trip to the ADA35 anniversary march and roll in Boston on Wednesday, July 23, and more. 

"I'm deeply grateful for the tireless advocacy of our Commission for Persons with Disabilities,” said Mayor Ballantyne. “As we prepare to raise the Disability Pride flag for the second year and honor Disability Pride Month, Somerville not only celebrates the strength and incredible contributions of our community members with disabilities, my administration remains firmly committed to fostering a city that is inclusive, accessible, and dedicated to ensuring that all people with disabilities can fully participate with dignity in every aspect of our community life."

Somerville began celebrations last month, with the SCPD bringing together over 100 Somerville residents with disabilities and family members to the Boston Red Sox annual Disability Pride game. The SCPD was honored by the Red Sox for this act of inclusion and equity. All residents are invited to participate and join in a full slate of additional events throughout the month of July. Disability Pride Month is celebrated in July to honor the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and 2025 marks the 35th anniversary of its signing on July 26, 1990. 

“The historic Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 prohibited, for the first time in this country's history, discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all aspects of public life. It laid the foundation for the establishment of local enforcement bodies like the Somerville Commission for Persons with Disabilities, for which I proudly serve as Chair,” said Holly Simione, Chair of the Somerville Commission for Persons with Disabilities. “The impact of this far-reaching and empowering civil rights legislation cannot be emphasized enough; from employment rights, accessible housing, educational equity, public accommodations, and technology access, all were made possible because of the ADA. This landmark Act serves as the enforcement backbone for the work we do as the SCPD.”  

As charged by the state, the SCPD among other activities serves to ‘advise and assist municipal officials and employees to ensure compliance with state and federal laws that affect people with disabilities.’ In Somerville, the SCPD does so much important work around disability advocacy and organizing. 

“We are honored to be appointed by the Mayor, for our lived experiences as persons with disabilities and advocates for all Somerville residents,” said Chair Simione. “This work ensures that Somerville embraces an environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based on disability, and strives for all people to have full and equal access to city services and programs, made possible by ADA."

“The Department of Racial and Social Justice and the City’s Accessibility Division look forward to again supporting the SCPD’s slate of programming for Disability Pride Month,” said Amanda Nagim-Williams, Director of RSJ. “We are grateful for their partnership and are excited about the ways we will continue to collaboratively champion accessibility, equity, and belonging in the City.”
 

Schedule of Events: 

Somerville Commission for Persons with Disabilities Monthly Public Meeting  

• Date/Time: Wednesday, July 9, 6 p.m.
• Location: West Somerville Library (40 College Ave.)
• About: Meet members of the SCPD and learn about their ongoing advocacy to support and empower Somerville residents with disabilities. A recent example of their impact: the SCPD awarded $70,000 in scholarships to graduating seniors through the Somerville High School Scholarship Foundation. Learn more at somervillema.gov/scpd. 

Disability Pride Month Flag Raising 

• Date/Time: Thursday, July 10, 5 p.m.
• Location: City Hall Concourse (93 Highland Ave.)
• About: Join Mayor Ballantyne, City Council members, the SPCD, and RSJ to raise the Disability Pride flag above Somerville’s City Hall. Families are encouraged to join us to hoist the flag together.

SCPD ArtBeat Booth 

• Date/Time: Saturday, July 19, 12 to 7 p.m. (musical performances continue until 9 p.m.)
• Location: ArtBeat, Davis Square
• About: Visit the SCPD’s booth at ArtBeat in Statue Park to gain resources, learn about open seats for Members, take home a free book, and participate in a fun art activity. Learn more at somervilleartscouncil.org/events/artbeat-freeze.

ADA35 Boston with the Boston Disabilities Commission 

• Date/Time: Wednesday, July 23, noon to 2 p.m.
• Location: Boston City Hall (1 City Hall Square, Boston)
• About: Join the SCPD and fellow advocates in Boston to honor the 35th anniversary of the ADA. Events include a flag raising, march and roll, and rally on the Boston Common. Learn more at boston.gov.  If you are interested in attending this event and would like help with transportation, please email adacommission@gmail.com. 

Persons with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication (i.e., CART, ASL), written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures to access the programs, activities, and meetings of the City of Somerville should please contact Adrienne Pomeroy in advance at 617-625-6600 x 2059 or apomeroy@somervillema.gov.  

The City of Somerville can provide you with an interpreter in your language for free. To request an interpreter, please contact us at somerviva@somervillema.gov or call 311 (617-666-3311) at least 7 days in advance of this event.   

The Disability Pride flag raising event will be videotaped by the City’s GovTV team. Watch it on-demand with optional closed-captioning (select the CC icon) on YouTube.com/SomervilleCityTV. Or watch on cable TV at GovTV (somervillema.gov/video) Comcast Ch. 22 and GovTV Astound (RCN) Ch. 13 & 613. Videos generally post within one business day of recording.