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Seattle Council proclaims July 2026 Disability Pride Month; advocates press for stronger transit accessibility
Summary
The Seattle City Council on July 7 proclaimed July 2026 Disability Pride Month. Advocates who spoke at the meeting urged the council to deepen transit accessibility, protect education and services, and guard against recent federal rollbacks affecting children with disabilities.
The Seattle City Council unanimously affixed signatures and proclaimed July 2026 as Disability Pride Month during its July 7 meeting, with Council member Alex Saka reading a proclamation that highlighted Washington state's 1971 "Education for All" law and the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Council members joined disability advocates on the dais for remarks and photographs.
Advocates urged the council to use the month as a moment for policy action. Cecilia Black, a wheelchair user and organizer with the Non-Drivers Alliance, thanked the council and said the ADA was won by disabled leaders who organized: "My wish for myself and council and the city of Seattle is that we use this month to really feel the power of the disability community." She warned that recent federal actions had eroded rights and supportive services for children with disabilities and asked the council to remain vigilant.
Colin Wong, representing the National Federation of the Blind's Seattle chapter, said Seattle has shown historic leadership on inclusion and urged continued progress on housing and transportation so people with disabilities can "participate meaningfully" in city life.
Saka and several speakers tied the proclamation to ongoing local work: Saka noted committee efforts and pending amendments to a city transit measure intended to increase focus on transit accessibility and safe access to stops for people walking and rolling. Terry Jones of the Disability Empowerment Center described services his organization provides across King County and thanked the council for the recognition.
The council session closed the proclamation segment by inviting representatives of the National Federation of the Blind, the Non-Drivers Alliance, and the Seattle Disability Commission for photos.
Why it matters: Council members and advocates framed the proclamation as more than symbolism — speakers pressed for concrete attention to transit accessibility, housing and services that affect people with disabilities, at a time when both federal and local policy choices may shift supports and protections.
Next steps: The council added its signatures to the proclamation and moved into a public-comment period; Saka referenced amendments to the city's transit measure that aim to increase accessibility focus and indicated continued committee work on related transportation policies.
