On July 23, we joined partners from across California to celebrate Disability Pride Month and the 36th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The second annual Walk and Roll was a celebration of the progress made through the ADA. It also reminded us that building communities where everyone belongs takes ongoing work.
“We are joining communities around the nation in recognition of July as Disability Pride Month, an opportunity to celebrate the many ways that people living with disabilities—whether visible or invisible, mobility or cognitive, vision or hearing, learning or sensory, developmental or acquired—add to the diversity and strengths of our state,” said California Health & Human Services Agency Secretary Kim Johnson.
Amanda Parker with her service dog Jasmine.
Department Director Pete Cervinka also joined state leaders, advocates, and community partners to celebrate people who continue to advance disability rights throughout California. One of those people is self-advocate Amanda Parker. She was one of four Californians recognized this month as 2026 ADA Champions!
“I feel honored to be asked and able to participate in this event because I can share my perspective about the community with others,” said Amanda.
For Amanda, the ADA is about creating opportunities for people with disabilities to fully take part in their communities. She also shared how her service dog, Jasmine, has shaped both her life and her advocacy.
“Jasmine is important because she helps me regulate and soothe when I’m feeling overwhelmed,” said Amanda. “When I started the process of having Jasmine as a service dog it was hard to get into places with an invisible disability. I had to educate people on what it means to bring a service dog into their places of business.”
The Walk and Roll was hosted by the California Department of Rehabilitation in partnership with Disability Rights California, the Department, and the California Department of Social Services.
Thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate inclusion, accessibility, and the rights that help make California stronger.