Disability Pride Month 2026 Events

10/1 - 10/31: Alex’s Great State Race “What’s Your 64?” Social Media Campaign
- Overview: Alex Powell was an MSU student who was diagnosed with cancer during his freshman year. Alex was supported by MSU’s Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities, which provided accommodations that helped him continue his education during a difficult time, while he also received medical care at the University of Michigan. After Alex’s passing, his parents, Steve and Juliana Powell, established Alex’s Great State Race to honor his memory and bring the two universities together in support of students with disabilities. For over a decade, MSU and UM ROTC cadets honored Alex Powell by carrying the game ball 64-miles between the two campuses in the middle of the night. In 2026, that tradition is evolving into a new challenge that invites everyone to carry Alex’s legacy forward. ROTC is kicking it off and you’re next!
- The Challenge: Choose your own 64, complete it and film a short video, and challenge someone else to do theirs. Your 64 can be anything: 64 minutes of something, 64 repetitions, 64 laps, 64 pages, 64 acts of kindness, or something meaningful to you. There is no single way to complete a 64. The goal is participation, connection, and carrying the challenge forward. Please direct any questions and submit your completed video to: uhw.comms@msu.edu
10/1 - 10/9: Disability Studies Book Display at the MSU Library
- Main Library lobby
- Overview: Celebrate Disability Pride Month at MSU by learning about disability studies. Check out the MSU Library’s disability studies book display in the Main Library lobby.
10/2: Disability Summit
- Hybrid: In-person & Zoom webinar
- 9:00 am – 4:30 pm in MSU Union
- Overview: Join students, faculty, and staff for the 3rd Annual Disability Summit, a day of learning, collaboration, and dialogue focused on accessibility, belonging, and innovation in higher education. Hosted by the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities (RCPD), the Office for Civil Rights and ADA Coordinator, and MSU Libraries, this year's theme, The Future of Disability in Higher Education, explores what is possible when disability perspectives are centered across teaching and learning, technology, employment, and campus life. Featuring keynote speaker Dr. Sami Schalk, panel discussions, workshops, and networking opportunities, the Summit will inspire meaningful conversations and help shape a more accessible and inclusive future at MSU.
- Register for in-person attendance
- Register for online attendance
10/7: Council of Students with Disabilities General Meeting
- 6:00 – 7:00 pm in Bessey Hall, room 313
- Overview: Join the Council of Students with Disabilities for an educational night as they discuss their disability experiences. Interested members will provide 3 – 5 minute presentations about “Things we wish non-disabled people knew”. Participants will leave with a broader understanding of disability and access. All are welcome!
10/9: Disability Summit Virtual Presentation
- Zoom Webinar: 12:10 - 1:00 pm EST
- Register for online attendance
- Overview: “Beyond Compliance: Disability Justice, Dignified Supervision, and Building Workplaces Where Everyone Can Do Their Best Work” by Dr. Swapna Hingwe.
10/13: Banned Together: Voices Uncensored
- 6:00 – 8:00 pm in the Multicultural Center, Multipurpose Room 1015
- Overview: A collaborative event hosted by the Gender and Sexuality Campus Center and University Activities Board. Join us for bedazzling book cover crafts, pastries from a local bakery, and an opportunity to learn about the importance of reading banned books by diverse authors, including queer stories, disabled writers, and authors of color! All are welcome!
10/21: Disability Pride Night
- 5:30 – 7:30 pm in STEM, room 3202
- Overview: Join the Council of Students with Disabilities, Tower Guard, the BOND Program, the Chronic Health Support and Awareness Group, and more campus partners to celebrate your disability pride! Drop by for a fun night of DIY crafting, community building, and free food. All are welcome!
10/23: Disability Summit Virtual Presentation
- Zoom Webinar: 12:10 - 1:00 pm EST
- Register for online attendance
- Overview: “Disability in Med School: Supporting Medical Students in the Boards Accommodations Process” by Hannah Huey-Jones, Dr. Karen Stanley-Kime, Dr. Amy Greenberg, Cara Ludlow, Jeffrey Truong, and Alicia Knickerbocker.
10/30: Disability Summit Virtual Presentation
- Zoom Webinar: 12:10 - 1:00 pm EST
- Overview: “Embracing Slowness for Our Futures of Disability Justice” by Chloe Grigsby.

Date

October 1, 2026

Time

12:00 AM - 12:00 AM