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July is Disability Pride Month: How the Industry Can Get Involved

Blog 48, July 2026

Another Disability Pride Month is being observed this July. This month is chosen to commemorate the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) into law in July 1990. To be sure, the ADA is landmark legislation, codifying protections for persons with disabilities against discrimination that would impact their ability to live, work, and play.

The ADA has also become synonymous with the physical accommodations required to make buildings more accessible. It has long been to our industry’s frustration that, incredibly, these accommodations have not included a mandate for automatic doors at entrances. AAADM’s decade-long effort to amend the International Building Code (IBC) mitigated this to a degree, but even it comes with caveats. IBC 1105.1.1 stipulates that one door be either a full power-operated door or a low-energy power-operated door for occupancy thresholds ranging from 300 to 500, depending on building type.

So, how can AAADM members get involved with Disability Pride Month? Mainly by reframing the accessibility conversation away from what is legally required to what is genuinely inclusive. Our industry is uniquely positioned to help close that gap by promoting accessibility as a standard of excellence, rather than a regulatory box to be checked.

A meaningful step is to discuss universal design as a default, not an upgrade. Of course, automatic doors benefit people with mobility issues, but they also help people with temporary injuries, older adults, parents with strollers, delivery workers, and many others. By talking about automatic doors as a convenience (and dignity-enhancing) feature for everyone, we can begin to shift perceptions—among architects, developers, and building owners.

In addition, we should continue to take a leadership role in education and advocacy. This has been a longtime mission of AAADM. Many developers and facility managers simply follow minimum code requirements because they really are not fully aware of the broader impact of accessibility decisions. We can provide pre-emptive guidance by developing case studies and sharing data that shows how automatic doors improve customer experience, help increase foot traffic, and can future-proof buildings. Partnering with disability advocacy groups during Disability Pride Month can amplify authentic voices and ensure that product development aligns with real user needs rather than assumptions.

The industry will continue to invest in smarter, more adaptable door systems that reduce installation barriers and make accessibility upgrades more appealing and easier to execute.

Finally, the industry can take the opportunities created by Disability Pride Month to share accountability and storytelling. Highlight projects that went beyond compliance, recognize inclusive design leaders, and share stories from individuals who benefit from automatic doors. All can humanize the issue. Publicly committing to increase automatic door installations in underserved areas or to reduce cost barriers can turn symbolic support into measurable impact.

In short, by moving beyond compliance, investing in inclusive innovation, and actively engaging with the community, the automatic door manufacturing industry can help transform Disability Pride Month from a moment of awareness into a catalyst for lasting change in the built environment.

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