| R 421 |
| 2026 -- H 8629 Enacted 06/11/2026 |
| H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N |
| PROCLAIMING JULY 2026 AS "DISABILITY AWARENESS AND DISABILITY PRIDE MONTH" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND |
Introduced By: Representatives Diaz, Blazejewski, Kazarian, Chippendale, Paplauskas, Slater, Casey, Edwards, Kennedy, and Azzinaro |
| Date Introduced: June 11, 2026 |
| WHEREAS, July is nationally recognized as Disability Pride Month and Disability |
| Awareness Month, celebrating the contributions, achievements, history, and civil rights of people |
| with disabilities; and |
| WHEREAS, July 26, 2026, marks the thirty-sixth anniversary of the signing of the |
| Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), landmark civil rights legislation that prohibits |
| discrimination against individuals with disabilities and promotes equal access, opportunity, and |
| inclusion in all aspects of society; and |
| WHEREAS, The ADA represented a historic promise of accessibility, independence, |
| inclusion, and equal opportunity; however, barriers continue to exist in housing, transportation, |
| education, employment, healthcare, voting, technology, and public accommodations; and |
| WHEREAS, More than twenty-six percent of Rhode Islanders live with a disability, |
| making people with disabilities one of the largest and most diverse communities in our State and |
| nation; and |
| WHEREAS, People with disabilities contribute significantly to Rhode Island's economic, |
| civic, educational, cultural, and social life and enrich our communities through their leadership, |
| talents, resilience, and achievements; and |
| WHEREAS, Disability Pride recognizes that people with disabilities are a natural and |
| valuable part of human diversity, and Disability Awareness calls upon all of us to identify and |
| remove barriers that prevent full participation and equal opportunity; and |
| WHEREAS, The State of Rhode Island remains committed to advancing accessibility, |
| equity, independence, inclusion, and dignity for all residents, regardless of ability; now, therefore |
| be it |
| RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby |
| proclaims the month of July 2026 as "Disability Awareness and Disability Pride Month" in the |
| State of Rhode Island; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That this House honors the thirty-sixth anniversary of the Americans with |
| Disabilities Act on July 26, 2026, and recommits itself to building a Rhode Island in which |
| accessibility is the standard, inclusion is the expectation, and every individual has the opportunity |
| to reach their full potential; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That all Rhode Islanders, businesses, schools, community organizations, |
| and government agencies are encouraged to recognize Disability Awareness and Disability Pride |
| Month by promoting accessibility, advancing inclusion, celebrating the contributions of |
| individuals with disabilities, and fostering a culture of respect and equal opportunity throughout |
| the State of Rhode Island and beyond; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to |
| transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Tina Guenette, the CEO, Founder, and |
| President of Real Access Motivates Progress (R.A.M.P.). |
| ======== |
| LC006593 |