Disability Pride Month
Jump to:
July is Disability Pride Month, it is about celebrating the inherent value of disabled people and honors the experiences of the disability community.
A few ways Disability Pride Month has been described include -
-
It is “about celebrating and reclaiming our visibility in public because people with disabilities have historically been pushed out of public spaces” (Laken Brooks)
-
It “honors the Disabled Identity, and reinforces the fact that disability is not abnormality. Rather, Disability is a part of the beautiful diversity that is being human. Disability Pride fights against a history of stigmatization, shame, and isolation with unabashed self-determination and PRIDE!” (Disability Pride SC)
-
“It promotes visibility and cultivates the pride felt within our community as we advocate for an inclusive world” (Disability Pride PA)
-
It "celebrates disabled persons embracing their disabilities as integral parts of who they are, reclaiming visibility in public and interacting fully with their disabilities out in the open, and rejecting shame and internalized ableism. It is a time for the disability community to come together, uplift, and amplify one another’s voices and be heard" (American Bar Association)
Disability Pride Flag
Designed by Ann Magill, 2021
History
Disability Pride Month (1990 - 2015)
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law on July 26, 1990. That year, Boston held the first Disability Pride Day.
The ADA serves as a powerful legislation that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in multiple facets of public life, enabling their full participation in society.
In 2015, the inaugural Disability Pride Month celebration took place as a way to honor the 25th anniversary of the ADA. Since then, communities across the US and the world have celebrated disability pride month with parades and other festivities.
While the ADA is an important and valuable piece of legislation, it's also important to remember that disability pride and inclusion is about more than legislation. The saying, "ADA is the floor, not the celling" helps to emphasize that legal requirements are generally considered the minimum effort and do not eliminate ableism.
The Disability Flag (2019 and 2021)
To enhance visibility for the community, the disability pride flag was conceptualized in 2019 by Ann Magill and subsequently updated in 2021.
The update incorporated feedback on visual safety which softened the colors as well as changing the zig-zag lines to straight lines. The original zig-zag flag had been reported to worsen symptoms of visually triggered disabilities, including seizure and migraine disorders.
The flag comprises five diagonal stripes of distinct colors set against a black backdrop. The original flag used zigzag patterns to represent how disabled people creatively overcome obstacles. In the updated flag, parallel stripes symbolize solidarity within the disability community.
The colors on the flag represent different disability experiences, highlighting the varied challenges and victories that individuals with disabilities face.
-
Diagonal Lines: Represent "cutting across" barriers
-
Red: Physical disabilities
-
Gold: Cognitive and intellectual disabilities
-
White: Nonvisible and undiagnosed disabilities
-
Blue: Psychiatric disabilities
-
Green: Sensory disabilities
-
Black: Commemorates and mourns disabled people who have died due to ableism, violence, negligence, suicide, rebellion, illness and eugenics
Beyond its visual appeal, the flag serves as a powerful symbol, embodying the breaking of barriers and honoring the victims of violence and abuse faced by individuals with disabilities.
Disability Pride Day, 1990
Credit: Briggs, Laura. “Disability Rights Activists Hold Historic Pride Day.” Gay Community News, vol. 18, no. 14, October 14-20, 1990, p. 3. Archives of Sexuality and Gender, link
DWSW Disability Pride Month Series 2024
Join us for a month-long celebration and reflection of disability and social work topics. Check back here throughout the July 2024 or follow along on LinkedIn.
You can also find this content in article form and PDF form on the blog here. Click the images below to enlarge and access the alt-text and links.
A green background. White text that says, July is Disability Pride Month. Join us for a month-long celebration and reflection of disability and social work topics. Below on a white background, black text that says Week 1: Introduction and Awareness. Week 2: Stories and History. Week 3: Resources and Research. Week 4: Advocacy and Policy. Week 5: Community. There is a heart shape in Disability Pride Flag colors and the Disability And Well-Being In Social Work.com logo and site are shown
Image of two typed document pages overlapping, use the link below to open the blog post with the Fact Sheets and plain text versions.
4 green squares with text, one is a quote and 3 are statistics. Click the link below to go to the LinkedIn post.
An image of the unseen film's movie poster, showing the profile of Pedro's face. Text reads: unseen. “As a blind, undocumented immigrant, Pedro faces uncertainty to obtain his college degree, become a social worker, and support his family. Through experimental cinematography and sound, unseen reimagines the accessibility of cinema, while exploring the intersections of immigration, disability, and mental health.” Learn more at www.unseen-film.com.
A graphic with a green and white background, the text reads the same as above, mentioning congratulations to the scholarship winners and sharing the intent of the scholarship. The Disability And Well-Being In Social Work.com logo and website are listed at the bottom.
Title, July is Disability Pride Month. A heart shape with the disability pride flag colors is shown. Beneath it the text, The first Disability Pride day was held October 6th, 1990 in Boston, organized by the Disability Pride Day Coalition. On the right is an image of a black and white newspaper article showing attendees at the 1990 parade with the headline Disability rights activists hold historic pride day. This image comes from the Gale Primary Source, Archives of Sexuality of Gender.
A green square on a white background. White text reads: What resources or tools have you found valuable in your work? Share your recommendations in the comments.
A white background. Screenshots of 3 documents are shown. Titled Make Access Easy, 21 Day disability Equity Habit Building Challenge and The Big Ableism Survey. The Disability And Well-Being In Social Work logo and website are listed at the bottom.
A screenshot of the Resource Library page showing a search bar and topic filters.
A screenshot of the DWSW LinkedIn post sharing links to a research survey and article
The cover of the PDF, it shows a red background with white text that reads Disability Pride Month, Ways To Participate. There is a graphic of 10 people of varying genders and skin tones and with a variety of mobility aids, such as wheelchairs, canes and prosthetics.
A green square on a white background. White text reads: Disability is intersectional. Check out these 8 event recordings with a white arrow pointing right. There is a heart shape in the colors of the Disability Pride Flag.
A white background and green border. Black text lists the titles of the 8 videos linked in the post. The Disability And Well-Being In Social Work logo and website are listed at the bottom.
Screenshot of the Disability Pride Month page on this website.
A white background. White text that says, “Within social work, can our profession conceptualize participation and inclusion of people with disabilities to multiple identities: client, citizen, and colleague? Kiesel et al. (2019). There is a heart shape in the colors of the Disability Pride Flag and the Disability And Well-Being In Social Work logo and website are listed at the bottom.
Ways To Participate
Click the arrows to navigate the document, full screen optional.
14 pages with 6 sections including suggestions for
-
Disabled People and Allies
-
Brands & Organizations
-
Political Representatives
-
Local Governments
-
Schools, K-12
-
Schools, Higher Education
Access additional file formats:
Feel free to download & share!
Events & Recognition
Many cities have Disability Pride Month celebrations and parades, below is a list of a few. We recommend an internet search for events in your area or virtual events to find more.
-
DisabilityPrideNM.org (New Mexico)
-
DisabilityPridePA.org (Pennsylvania)
-
DisabilityPrideSC.org (South Carolina)
-
DisabilityPrideMadison.org (Madison, Wisconsin)
-
DisabilityPrideLA.com (Los Angeles)
-
DisabilityPrideParade.org (Chicago)
Additionally, the following states have passed resolutions or proclamations recognizing July as Disability Pride Month.
At the federal level, H.Res.619, a bipartisan resolution, was introduced in 2023 to express support for July to be designated as Disability Pride Month as well - though it was referred to Committee and has yet to pass.
Articles & Resources To Share
Images
Articles
Click any URL link in the list below to open the resource in a new window. Explore even more resources using the Disability In Social Work Resource Library or the Collaborative Reading List.
-
Disabled Young People Answer: What is Disability Pride?
Youth Disability Advocacy Service
3 and a half minute video in which disabled young people answer: What is Disability Pride? (ASL included)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpkwSQQbFEg&t=13s&ab_channel=YouthDisabilityAdvocacyService
-
10 things to think about before organizations "celebrate the ADA"
Sheri Byrne-Haber
10 situations all organizations should think about and avoid when celebrating any disability-related holiday or event.
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/10-things-you-need-think-before-your-organization-ada-sheri/
-
Books for Disability Pride Month
Penguin Random House
Celebrating Disability Pride Month in July with books from disabled writers, artists, and activists who have fought to create a more open, inclusive, and beautiful world.
https://penguinrandomhousehighereducation.com/2023/06/07/disability-pride-month/
-
The evolution of disability language: Choosing terms to describe disability
Erin E. Andrews, Robyn M. Powell, Kara Ayers
This commentary discusses the history and evolution of disability language, explores current trends, and recommends language for academic articles.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1936657422000681
-
Celebrating Disability Pride - What's your role?
Keely Cat-Wells
A few ideas of things you can do and movements you can get involved with to proactively make this world a more inclusive place for everybody.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/keelycatwells/2023/06/28/celebrating-disability-pride-monthwhats-your-role/?sh=68f62f193ba2
-
5 Questions To Think About This #DisabilityPrideMonth
Andrew Pulrang
Five questions that may help clarify what Disability Pride Month is and what it may have the potential to become
https://www.forbes.com/sites/andrewpulrang/2021/07/15/5-questions-to-think-about-this-disabilitypridemonth/?sh=64ab21d31417
-
Virtual Bookshelf: Disability Pride Month
National Endowment for the Humanities
Celebrate the contributions of disabled Americans by exploring projects that expand disability access and research and support disability history and experience.
https://www.neh.gov/news/virtual-bookshelf-disability-pride-month