By NLIHC IDEAS Team
NLIHC recognizes July as Disability Pride Month, commemorating the landmark passage of the “Americans with Disabilities Act” (ADA) on July 26, 1990. A 2024 report from the CDC found that over 70 million people in the United States live with a disability. Disability Pride Month is a time to uplift the diverse experiences of people living with disabilities and challenge harmful narratives that minimize those communities and their experiences.
According to The Arc, a leading national organization advocating for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), the 2026 theme for Disability Pride Month is “The World Works Better With Us.” This theme highlights the importance of inclusion. Building a world where inclusion, respect, and support are guaranteed for those with disabilities creates a better world for us all.
According to a 2026 report in the Disability and Health Journal, renters with disabilities are more likely to face and report poor health, housing quality issues, and affordability challenges compared to non-disabled households. Their research found that disabled households were 5.8 times more likely to report poor or fair health, 3.3 times more likely to report problems with upkeep, 2.7 times more likely to report mold, and twice as likely to report poor sleep and uncomfortable temperatures. The findings in this research highlight the disparity disabled renters and households face in their housing conditions and experience. You can read more about the report in a previous Memo article here.
NLIHC’s Opportunity Starts at Home (OSAH) Campaign prioritizes equitable housing for everyone and has produced materials that highlight disability rights and housing. More information on disability rights and housing from the OSAH campaign can be found here.
As an organization dedicated to racially and socially just housing policy, NLIHC recognizes the vital role people with disabilities play in advancing housing justice. Acknowledging and celebrating the importance of this community and their lived experiences can help improve access and support equitable outcomes that strengthen our efforts to ensure people with the lowest incomes can access safe, affordable homes in communities of their choice.