This past April, the Office for People with Disabilities (OPD) and the Mayor’s Commission on People with Disabilities (MCPD), in partnership with Inglis House, hosted Philadelphia’s first-ever Disability Summit. The event was designed as a relaxed and welcoming space where people with disabilities, policymakers, advocates, service providers, and community members could come together to ensure disability perspectives are reflected in public policy and programs. 

One highlight of the day was a hands-on art activity where attendees decorated cards centered around the theme of “bridging ability” and advancing full inclusion. The cards will become part of a larger art display at the Municipal Services Building. OPD also introduced its new “Tag It, Track It, Find It” initiative, designed to help residents identify durable medical equipment (DME) if it is ever lost or left behind during an emergency. 

The summit also recognized the 36th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the landmark civil rights law passed in 1990. In recognition of Autism Awareness Month, attendees heard from guest speaker Jamiel Owens of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, who shared his personal experience raising a child with autism. 

Most importantly, the summit centered the voices and leadership of people with disabilities, creating space for meaningful conversations that can help shape the policies and programs impacting their lives. 

We extend our sincere thanks to everyone who contributed to the success of this event, including Inglis House; Jamiel Owens; PA Center for Adapted Sports; Penn Dental Medicine; National Federation for the Blind; Councilmember Rue Landau’s office; Councilmember Nina Ahmad; grassroots organizer Lauren Rinaldi; the Library of Accessible Media for Pennsylvanians (LAMP); Help Hope Live; Natasha Levitas; the Mayor’s Commission on People with Disabilities; and members of the disability community across Philadelphia.