July marks Disability Pride Month which celebrates the unique identities within the disability community. The same year the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) past in the U.S., Boston MA held a parade celebrating disability pride. This event has sense turned into a month long global celebration.

While Disability Pride Month is not yet nationally recognized, it features its own flag, parades, and events. These initiatives aim to shed light on how society treats individuals with disabilities and other marginalized groups, while celebrating the beauty of human diversity. The Disability Pride flag, much like the LGBTQ+ flag, uses colors and symbols to represent inclusion.

Today’s Disability Pride flag features a charcoal grey background intersected by a diagonal band in multiples colors, including red, gold, white, blue, and green. Designed by Ann Magill, she incorporated feedback to ensure accessibility: adjusting colors to accommodate color-blindness and softening tones and removing the original zigzag design to minimize negative reactions from individuals with epilepsy.

Each section of the flag has a meaning:

• Charcoal gray background: In memory of the victims of ableist abuse and violence, including children or those killed, suicides, or individuals who suffered from negligence
• Diagonal band: Cutting across the barriers blocking people with disabilities from full participation, integration, and inclusion in society
• Red stripe: Physical disabilities (chronic pain/fatigue, mobility impairment, loss of limbs)
• Gold stripe: Neurodivergence (autism, ADHD, dyslexia)
• White stripe: Undiagnosed and invisible disabilities
• Blue stripe: Psychiatric disabilities (depression, PTSD, anxiety, etc.)
• Green stripe: Sensory disabilities (hearing loss, visual impairments, etc.)

Below are several notable celebrations and activities scheduled across the U.S. and you can also contact your local or state disability advocacy organizations or groups.

Notable Celebrations Will Include:

• Ohio: Abilities at Bat
• Washington, D.C.: Disability Pride Month Scavenger Hunt
• Vanderbilt University Medical Center Virtual Panel
• Chicago, Illinois: Disability Pride Parade
• Long Beach, California: Disability Pride Celebration
• Nebraska: Disability Pride Celebration

Be an Ally and Supporter of individuals with disabilities:

• Read their books
• Watch their films
• Shop their businesses
• Get involved by volunteering, donating, or advocating

Additional Resources:

• The Arc: Why & How to Celebrate Disability Pride Month
• UserWay: Disability Pride Month – Celebrating Inclusivity
• Opportunity Village: Why We Celebrate Disability Pride Month