Olympia City Council declares March 2025 as Disability Awareness Month 

The Olympia City Council endorsed a proclamation designating March 2025 as Disability Awareness Month.

The proclamation marks a commitment to promoting accessibility and upholding the rights of people with disabilities.  

“The City of Olympia recognizes persons with disabilities as valued community members who contribute meaningfully across various roles. Despite their significant contributions, they continue to face barriers to full participation," states the proclamation, which was signed by Mayor Dontae Payne on Tuesday, March 4.

The city acknowledges that accessibility challenges intersect with race, gender, and economic status, requiring a collaborative and equitable approach. Olympia honors the ongoing efforts of individuals, advocates, and organizations working to remove barriers and promote inclusion."

Joslyn Nelson, of Disability Justice Task Force, explained that disability justice is a complex issue beyond access and accommodation.

She said disability intersects with multiple forms of discrimination, including racism, classism and LGBTQIA+ marginalization.  

Citing historical examples, like the eugenics movement and the 504 sit-ins, Nelson highlighted how disabled people, especially individuals from marginalized communities, have consistently faced systemic barriers in areas like health care, education and employment.  

“These injustices are not just history. They continue today,” Nelson said.

She pointed out that disabled people experience higher rates of poverty, incarceration and barriers to health due to systemic discrimination, and those numbers are higher for Black and brown disabled people.

She added that LGBTQIA+ and disabled individuals are more likely to face housing insecurity, employment discrimination and denial of gender-affirming care.  

Nelson stressed that true inclusion is not just about recognition, but requires actively centering the most impacted communities, challenging ableism, and creating policies and workplaces that value and support disabled individuals.

“It must be translated into actions, into policy that reflects the need of multiple marginalized communities, workplaces that embrace diverse disabled talent, and society that ensures all disabled people are seen, heard, and valued," Nelson said.

During the proclamation, Sarah Norton shared her personal experience as a person with multiple disabilities, highlighting the lifelong struggle of feeling like an outsider or a burden.

She described how societal expectations often forced her to hide her needs, such as wearing uncomfortable clothing or suppressing movements that help her regulate. 

Norton celebrated recent changes, like a tourism brochure featuring sensory-friendly events in Olympia, as signs of progress.

She emphasized the importance of using the word "disability" without shame and advocating for spaces that ask people with disabilities what they need from the beginning. 

She thanked the city council for the proclamation, seeing it as a step toward creating an inclusive community where disabled individuals can feel safe, heard and valued without having to apologize for their existence.