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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
RECOGNIZING JULY AS DISABILITY PRIDE MONTH IN COOK COUNTY
WHEREAS, Disability Pride Month is observed each July to commemorate the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), signed into law on July 26, 1990, and to celebrate the achievements, resilience, culture, and contributions of people with disabilities; and
WHEREAS, the ADA, which prohibits discrimination based on disability, was enacted into federal civil rights law after 36 years of advocacy; and
WHEREAS, Disability Pride Month promotes the principles of inclusion, accessibility, self-determination, and equal opportunity, while recognizing that people with disabilities are integral members of every community and contribute significantly to the social, cultural, civic, and economic vitality of Cook County; and
WHEREAS, disability can be a part of anyone's life, whether a person is born with a disability or develops one later in life; and
WHEREAS, according to U.S. Census reporting from 2020-2024, approximately 11.3% of the population, or 587,540 Cook County residents, report having a disability; and
WHEREAS, Cook County is committed to advancing equity and ensuring that residents with disabilities have meaningful access to housing, employment, healthcare, education, transportation, civic participation, and justice; and
WHEREAS, inspired by the civil rights movement, the independent living movement began in the 1970s and advanced the rights and self-determination of people with disabilities; and
WHEREAS, in Olmstead v. L.C. (1999), the United States Supreme Court recognized that the unnecessary institutionalization of people with disabilities constitutes discrimination and affirmed the right of individuals with disabilities to receive services in the most integrated setting appropriate to their needs, a landmark civil rights decision often described as the disability community's equivalent of Brown v. Board of Education; and
WHEREAS, the principles established in Olmstead have enabled millions of Americans with disabilities to live, work, and participate fully in their communities with dignity, independence, and self-determination; and
WHEREAS, on June 18, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel issued a memorandum advancing a narrower interpretation of Olmstead and the federal integration mandate, prompting significant concern among disability rights advocates, legal experts, and community organizations regarding the future enforcement of community integration protections; and
WHEREAS, while the memorandum does not alter existing federal law, overturn the Olmstead decision, or diminish the rights guaranteed under the Americans with Disabilities Act, it has underscored the continuing importance of municipal vigilance in protecting the civil rights of people with disabilities and preserving opportunities for community-based living and services; and
WHEREAS, the work of many Cook County nonprofit organizations, including Access Living, Equip for Equality, Center for Disability & Elder Law, Progress Center for Independent Living, and others, embodies the values of Disability Pride Month by promoting empowerment, protecting civil rights, expanding accessibility, and ensuring that residents with disabilities can fully participate in community life.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners does hereby recognize the month of July as Disability Pride Month in Cook County and encourages all residents to celebrate the accomplishments, leadership, and contributions of individuals with disabilities; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners reaffirms its support for the principles embodied in the Americans with Disabilities Act and supports the right of people with disabilities to live, work, and receive services in the most integrated setting appropriate to their needs and consistent with their choices; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners commends all organizations advancing disability rights, accessibility, and inclusion for the residents of Cook County.
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