TRENDING

In the United States, many months of the year are dedicated to shining a much-needed light on historically oppressed and underrepresented communities. During Black History Month in February, we celebrate the achievements and contributions of African Americans throughout U.S. history. Likewise, during Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May, we recognize the positive influence of Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans.

What about Pride Month? We don't mean the Pride Month that celebrates queer identities in June. We're talking about Disability Pride Month. 

Despite the disability community being the largest minority in the United States (with 61 million Americans possessing a disability), it might be the most underrated marginalized community. Since there is still a lot of negative stigma surrounding the disability community, Disability Pride Month doesn't receive as much attention as more popular pride months. 

Do you want to help break the stigma? Here's everything you need to know about Disability Pride Month.

What is Disability Pride Month?

@ableartswork

Since 2015, Disability Pride Month has been celebrated every July to commemorate the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26, 1990. The Americans with Disabilities Act is a federal civil rights law that protects people with disabilities by prohibiting discrimination against them from employers, public transportation providers, businesses, local and state governments and more. They also guarantee that they will have the same opportunities as everyone else.

Disabilities can be visible or invisible and include, but are not limited to, cancer, epilepsy, autism, deafness, blindness, post-traumatic stress disorder, HIV, cerebral palsy, diabetes, major depressive disorder, traumatic brain disorder, mobility disabilities (e.g. wheelchair users) and intellectual disabilities (e.g. Down syndrome).

What is the meaning behind the Disability Pride flag?

@utahparentcenter

The Disability Pride flag was created in 2019 by a woman named Ann Magill, who has cerebral palsy. The original design had zigzag lines but was updated in 2021 to feature straight lines after complaints that the zigzag lines caused migraines for people with visually triggered disabilities.

The new flag has the same colors as the old one, which represent different kinds of disabilities: green for sensory disabilities, blue for psychiatric and emotional disabilities, white for invisible and undiagnosed disabilities, gold for neurodivergent disabilities and red for physical disabilities. The faded black space represents rage and mourning for victims of ableist violence and abuse. The diagonal lines represent the disability community cutting through barriers.

What can you do?

@disabilityreframed

Disability pride means accepting people with disabilities and embracing them as a natural part of human diversity. You can celebrate Disability Pride Month by having honest conversations about people with disabilities' experiences, spreading awareness via social media, attending a pride parade, refraining from using ableist language and/or by conducting your own research. You can even follow disability activist accounts such as @blind_person_in_area or donate to disability empowerment organizations such as Ability Beyond.

Treat people with disabilities the same way you would treat people without disabilities. People with disabilities have intersectional identities—they contain multitudes and have a variety of interests that are unrelated to their disabilities.

And above all, remember to fight for disability rights not just in July, but during every month of the year.

Slider image: @blind_person_in_area
Top image: @mxdevin

by Danielle Phillip | 7/23/2023