In July, Community Living Campaign (CLC) hosted another successful series of Disability Pride treasure hunts! Through both an in-person and virtual adventure across San Francisco, CLC brought together community members to celebrate the people, places, and organizations that have shaped disability rights in our city. The treasure hunts were designed to be as accessible as possible, offering multiple ways for people to participate while learning about San Francisco’s rich disability history.
Participants followed creative clues that led them to organizations and landmarks that have played an important role in San Francisco’s disability community. Treasurer hunters had to solve riddles related to the colors of the Disability Pride flag, with clues such as, “Clue #1 is brought to you by the color green,” “Clue #3 is brought to you by the color white,” “Clue #6 is brought to you by the color red,” and “Clue #12 is brought to you by the faded black background.” Each clue revealed another piece of San Francisco’s disability history, leading participants to destinations including Laguna Honda Hospital, Independent Living Resource Center San Francisco, Creativity Explored, Art with Elders, the Office on Disability and Accessibility, the Pomeroy Recreation & Rehabilitation Center, the Disability Cultural Center, and the San Francisco Public Library. Clue solvers also learned about the site of the historic 26-day Section 504 sit-in at the former Federal Building.
Jennifer Walsh, CLC’s Ability Integrator and the leader of the hunts, encouraged everyone to reflect on their own experiences by asking questions like, “Do you know anyone who is neurodiverse?” “Do you know anyone with an invisible disability?” and “Do you know anyone who has been a victim of ableism or abuse?” The clues sparked lively conversations while introducing participants to the people, organizations, and moments that helped shape disability rights in San Francisco.
Eighteen people participated in the in-person treasure hunt, while 37 joined the virtual event, with strong participation from several day programs. The attendees enjoyed the experience and looked forward to returning next year. They were especially surprised to learn about the length of the historic 26-day Section 504 sit-in, as well as the many accessible services offered by the San Francisco Public Library.
The treasure hunts were just two highlights of Community Living Campaign’s Disability Pride Month celebration, which also included the Wheel of Pride: Navigating Life event. Together, these programs honored the history, achievements, and resilience of people with disabilities while creating opportunities for learning, connection, and community pride. Thank you to Jennifer Walsh for putting on such great events during another great Disability Pride Month, reminding us all that San Francisco’s greatest treasures are the people, stories, and communities working every day to build a more accessible world.