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July is Disability Pride Month, a time to highlight the strength, resilience, and contributions of people with disabilities and to recommit ourselves to creating school environments where all students feel seen, valued, and supported. It's vitally important that we recognize, honor, and include the full spectrum of experiences our students bring into our schools.
As school nurses, we’re uniquely positioned to be disability allies—not only by providing care and support, but by advocating for systems and environments that promote true access and equity. The CDC offers simple, actionable strategies for becoming a stronger ally, like using inclusive language, educating ourselves about ableism, and amplifying disabled voices.
In our work, that might look like:
- Ensuring care plans are student-centered and strengths-based
- Collaborating with special education and 504 teams to advocate for health accommodations
- Considering accessibility—not just physical, but emotional and sensory—when planning school health programming
As we continue our journey together through the 2025–2026 school year, I’ll be sharing moments, ideas, and resources that speak to our theme of Leading with Courage, Clarity & Purpose. Thanks for all you do—and for the ways you show up for every student, every day.
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