Disability Pride Month Shines a Light on Inclusion, and on the work of Pathwise in Laurens County
July 22, 2026
Every July, communities across the country mark Disability Pride Month, a time set aside to honor the history, achievements, and lived experiences of the disability community while advocating for full inclusion and equal rights. The observance carries special meaning this month because it coincides with the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the landmark civil rights law signed on July 26, 1990, that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities and guarantees them equal access to employment, public spaces, and services.
For Laurens County, the month offers a fitting occasion to recognize an organization that has quietly advanced those same values close to home for more than five decades.
Pathwise, formerly known as the Laurens County Disabilities and Special Needs Board, has served individuals with disabilities in the community since it was established in 1973. Today the organization supports more than 600 individuals in Laurens County and surrounding areas, offering early intervention programs, day programs for training and social engagement, employment services, residential services, family support, and case management. Its programs are licensed by the South Carolina Office of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, and its case management reaches beyond county lines into communities such as Fountain Inn, Newberry, Greenwood, and Abbeville.
The organization serves people with intellectual and developmental disabilities as well as those with head or spinal cord injuries, delivering support in the least restrictive environment possible so that each person is met with respect and dignity.
Earlier this year, the organization adopted the Pathwise name to better reflect the heart of its mission. Associate Director Tara Glenn said the word “path” kept surfacing in conversations with staff.
“We’re not here to fix anyone or change anyone,” Glenn said. “We’re here to come alongside individuals and walk with them in whatever goals or paths they set for themselves.”
Executive Director Jason Tavenner said Disability Pride Month reflects values that guide the organization year round.
“Disability Pride Month is a reminder of how much every person has to offer when they are given the chance to thrive,” Tavenner said. “That belief is at the center of everything we do at Pathwise, and it is a privilege to walk alongside the individuals and families who trust us.”
That philosophy mirrors the spirit of Disability Pride Month itself, which celebrates people with disabilities not as individuals to be pitied or corrected, but as full members of the community whose contributions and independence deserve recognition.
Pathwise sums up its approach in a simple statement on its website: the organization honors the journey of every individual, offering guidance, respect, and opportunities that lead to fuller, connected lives.
As Laurens County observes Disability Pride Month, residents looking to learn more, seek services, or support the work can visit pathwisesc.org.
