Diversity & Community Health Equity
UI Health Celebrates Diversity
Inclusion Calendar
UI Health CHAMPIONS
Arab American Heritage Month
Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month
UI Health Honors Black History Month
UI Health Honors Caribbean American Heritage Month
Disability Pride & Awareness
Filipino American Heritage Month
National Hispanic Heritage Month
Jewish American Heritage Month
LGBTQ+ Pride Month
UI Health Honors Native American Heritage Month: Honoring Resilience, Healing, and Heritage
Women's History Month
UI Health Honors Disability Pride Month
Access in Action: Service Animals, Inclusive Healthcare, and Disability Pride
This July, UI Health recognizes Disability Pride Month through an interactive learning and engagement experience focused on accessibility, disability inclusion, service animals, and equitable healthcare practices.
Healthcare experiences are shaped not only by clinical expertise, but also by accessibility, communication, identity, and the ways healthcare environments respond to the needs of individuals with disabilities. This event is designed to strengthen awareness, cultural humility, and practical understanding surrounding disability inclusion within healthcare settings.
Through interactive learning stations, educational discussion, Kahoot engagement, and resource sharing, participants will explore how accessibility and inclusive practices can positively influence patient experience, trust, communication, and equitable care outcomes.
This event will also honor the legacy of former ADA Coordinator Peter Berg, whose advocacy and lived experience significantly contributed to advancing accessibility and inclusion efforts across UI Health and UIC.
Special guest participation includes Ham from the Campus PAWS Program .
Access in Action: Service Animals, Inclusive Healthcare, and Disability Pride
- Date: July 30, 2026
- Time: 11:30 am — 1:30 pm (CT)
- Location: Hospital Room 1020 (Tentative) or Online via Zoom
- Register today!
Event Focus Areas
Join us for interactive discussion and engagement exploring:
- Accessibility and Inclusive Healthcare Practices
- Understanding how accessibility impacts patient care, communication, and healthcare experiences.
- Service Animals in Healthcare Settings
- Exploring service animal roles, common misconceptions, etiquette, and healthcare considerations.
- Disability Pride and Community Awareness
- Recognizing disability identity, advocacy, inclusion, and the importance of equitable access.
- Real-World Accessibility Scenarios
- Applying inclusive approaches to patient interactions and healthcare environments.
- Resources and Community Partnerships
- Connecting staff with university, hospital, and community accessibility supports and resources.
Event Flow
- 11:30 – Noon: Arrival, Resource Tables & Interactive Learning Stations
- Noon – 1 pm: Hybrid Educational Session & Kahoot
- 1 – 1:30 pm: Continued In-Person Learning Stations, Resource Sharing & Networking
Audience
- Hospital and university staff
- Physicians, nurses, and allied health professionals
- Residents, trainees, and students
- Administrative and operational leaders
- CARE Committee members
Event Goals
- Increase awareness surrounding disability inclusion and accessibility within healthcare settings
- Strengthen inclusive communication and patient-centered care practices
- Improve understanding of service animal considerations and etiquette
- Promote culturally responsive and equitable healthcare environments
- Honor the advocacy and legacy of former ADA Coordinator Peter Berg
UI Health, we are committed to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and culturally responsive care within our workforce and across the communities we serve.
We invite staff, faculty, and learners to join us in recognizing Disability Pride Month through continued education, reflection, engagement, and connection.
For additional information or to get involved, visit ODCHE.UIHealth.Care or contact the Office of Diversity and Community Health Equity at UIHDiversity@uic.edu.
Archives
Read more about how UI Health recognizes the history, achievements, and contributions of individuals with disabilities.
- Disability Pride Month 2022
- Disability Pride Month 2023
- Disability Pride Month 2024
- Disability Pride Month 2025
