Disability Advocates Celebrate 36th ADA Anniversary with Disability Pride Flag Raising at Long Beach City Hall

Celebration and advocacy were center stage at Long Beach City Hall on July 1, 2026, as local officials and disability advocates rang in Disability Pride Month and the 36th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The annual Disability Pride Flag Raising, hosted by Long Beach City Councilwoman Mary Zendejas, honored ongoing efforts towards accessibility, inclusion, and justice for people with disabilities. 

Councilwoman Zendejas, a longtime disability rights advocate, welcomed attendees with gratitude. “Today is about a special recognition,” she shared. “Not only are we raising the Disability Pride Flag and honoring the ADA anniversary, but we are coming together to celebrate individuals with disabilities on all levels. Disability is a valued part of our community, and our voices need to be heard.” 

Passed in 1990, the ADA remains a cornerstone of civil rights by prohibiting discrimination and ensuring equal opportunity in employment, public education, transportation, and more. Its passage was born from decades of advocacy and struggle from the disability community, a fact not missed by featured speakers at the event. Speaking to the ongoing significance of the ADA, Los Angeles County Commission on Disabilities (LACCOD) Commissioner Deaka McClain reflected, “The ADA was born not out of pity, but rather for justice. We are here today because others stood before us. We rise today because those who came before us refused to back down.” 

McClain also emphasized that the fight for disability justice is ongoing and that inclusion is key for creating a just society. “Inclusion is not a luxury. It is a necessity. Disability Pride Month reminds us to celebrate exactly who we are. Never be ashamed, never hide, never apologize for our existence,” McClain highlighted.  

The event featured remarks spotlighting the continued fight for equal rights and access by local leaders, including Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn and several representatives from disability advocacy organizations and the City of Long Beach. One of them, Long Beach Citywide Accessibility Coordinator Arles Benavides, highlighted the city’s recent outreach efforts to better understand and serve residents with both visible and invisible disabilities, reinforcing that “accessibility is more than physical access. It’s about creating a community where everyone has the opportunity to participate, contribute, and thrive.” 

The importance of creating an inclusive community is best represented in the Disability Pride Flag. Raised high above City Hall, the flag serves as a powerful symbol. Councilwoman Zendejas explained its meaning to the crowd: “Red stands for physical disabilities, gold for neurodivergence and intellectual disabilities, white for invisible disabilities, blue for psychiatric and mental health disabilities, green for sensory disabilities, and the charcoal black represents the rage and those who died fighting for our rights.” 

As Dr. Sue ElHessen, Miss Wheelchair California 2026, reminded the audience, “Disability pride is not about overcoming disability. It’s about recognizing our inherent worth, demanding equal opportunity, and celebrating the unique perspectives we bring to our communities.” 

As music played and conversations continued, the message was clear: disability pride is about visibility, dignity, community, and the way the world works better with people with disabilities.  

Learn more by visiting the L.A. County Aging and Disabilities Department (AD)’s Disability Pride Month 2026 campaign.