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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. The flag has a dark gray background with 5 colored diagonal lines. The lines are red, yellow, white, blue and green.

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.

  1. Diagonal Lines: Represent "cutting across" barriers

  2. Red: Physical disabilities

  3. Gold: Cognitive and intellectual disabilities

  4. White: Nonvisible and undiagnosed disabilities

  5. Blue: Psychiatric disabilities

  6. Green: Sensory disabilities

  7. 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.

DisabilityPrideDAy1990.jpg

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.​​

Ways To Participate

Click the arrows to navigate the document, full screen optional. 

14 pages with 6 sections including suggestions for 

  1. Disabled People and Allies

  2. Brands & Organizations

  3. Political Representatives

  4. Local Governments

  5. Schools, K-12

  6. 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.

Additionally, the following states have passed resolutions or proclamations recognizing July as Disability Pride Month.

At the federal levelH.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.

  1. 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
     

  2. 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/
     

  3. 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/
     

  4. 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
     

  5. 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
     

  6. 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
     

  7. 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

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