Disability Pride Month is celebrated in July in recognition of the original passing of the Americans with Disability Act. This year, Minnesota Governor, Tim Walz, declared July officially Disability Pride Month in Minnesota.
Disability Pride Month “celebrates disabled people 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” (via the American Bar Association)
Recently the Disability Pride flag was updated to make it more accessible with visually triggered disabilities.
The black background signifies mourning and rage for the victims of violence, including sexual assault, and to remind us that there’s still work to do to protect the rights of people with disabilities.
The five colors represent the variety of disabilities and experiences. They represent invisible and undiagnosed disabilities, physical disabilities, neurodivergence, psychiatric disabilities, sensory disabilities.
The parallel stripes reflect solidarity across the disability community and all its differences.
The diagonal band shows us how disabled people “cut across” the walls and barriers that separate them from the rest of society.
Celebrate this month by waving your flag high!
Here are some great resources on Disability Pride Month: