Body of News Release
Marin County, CA – The County of Marin is encouraging community participation in its Disability Pride Month activities, celebrations, and learning opportunities throughout July.
The Marin County Board of Supervisors approved a proclamation during its July 7 meeting to honor Disability Pride Month. The official document reaffirmed the County’s dedication to ongoing education, partnership with disabled communities and the advancement of policies and programs that promote access, dignity, and justice.
“Disability Pride is not only about visibility, but also about belonging,” said Laney Davidson, the County’s Disability Access Manager. “It is about affirming that disabled people are an essential part of the fabric of Marin County, and that our policies and practices must not simply accommodate disability but celebrate and center it.”
Disability justice at the County level goes beyond legal compliance, calling for a cultural shift toward recognizing people with disabilities as valued community members with agency, creativity, and expertise. The Board’s resolution acknowledged the diverse experiences of disabled residents across age, race, gender, class, and cultural identities, and honors the long history of activism that has advanced disability rights.
In honor of Disability Pride Month, the County recently hosted a multimonth book club for staff and community members on the book “Crip Kinship” by Shayda Kafai. The author explores the movement-building legacy project called Sins Invalid, centering queer, trans, Black, Indigenous, and disabled artists of color.
The recent modernization of the Civic Center’s BOS Chamber centered on ensuring everyone has an equal opportunity to participate, engage, and be heard. Real-time English and Spanish captioning are available, online access to those captioning services have been expanded, and a new assistive listening system has been deployed that allows individuals to connect using County-provided devices or their own smartphones.
Those enhancements are about much more than compliance, Davidson said. They are about creating an environment where every resident, employee, elected official, and community member has equitable access to information and an equal opportunity to participate. Technology has the power to remove barriers, and with these improvements, and the County has taken an important step toward ensuring that local government is more inclusive, more welcoming, and more accessible for everyone served.
The Marin County Fair has long prided itself on being a celebration of community, creativity, and inclusion. Over the past few years, the fair elevated this mission by implementing a series of robust disability access initiatives designed to welcome visitors of all abilities by introducing expanded services and new innovations that position it as a statewide leader in accessibility for large community events. These efforts reflect not only compliance with ADA standards, but also a deeper commitment to equity, belonging, and joy for all attendees.
At the heart of the fair’s accessibility efforts is the ADA Accessibility Lounge. This dedicated indoor space serves as a quiet, air-conditioned retreat for fairgoers needing a sensory break or additional assistance. The lounge is staffed daily with trained volunteers acting as “ADA Concierges” — guides who provided personalized support with wayfinding, information about accessible amenities, and emotional reassurance for guests navigating the lively fairgrounds. To ensure the space is welcoming and functional, the lounge offers noise-canceling headphones, tactile fidgets, refreshments, and comfortable seating. It has quickly become a cornerstone of the fair’s inclusive environment.
Recognizing that carnival rides and games can also be overwhelming for some guests, the fair hosted a sensory-friendly carnival window on the morning of July 2. During that time, rides operated without amplified sound or flashing lights, creating a calmer environment for children and adults with sensory sensitivities. More than 75 patrons participated, a 120% increase from the 2025 fair.
Another highlight of the fair’s accessibility offerings is the Momentum Refresh mobile restroom, a state-of-the-art facility designed for universal access. Available all five days of the fair, the trailer featured a height-adjustable adult changing table, an overhead ceiling hoist for safe transfers, and ample space for a caregiver. By providing Momentum Refresh, the fair eliminated a common barrier to participation, ensuring that individuals and families could stay longer, feel more comfortable, and fully enjoy the festivities.
The Marin County Fair won first place for the robust accessibility offerings at the 2025 Western Fairs Association Conference, making it an industry leader in this field.
The Disability Access Program coordinates and monitors the County’s compliance with all applicable federal, state and local laws, codes, and regulations. Staff members work closely with all County departments to facilitate compliance through the provision of information, resources, guidance, and education. Learn more about the County of Marin’s vision to be accessible to all.