Understanding the Disability Pride Flag

If you live in the US, when you think of a flag, the image that may come to mind is the Stars Spangled Banner, waving proudly to represent freedom and unity. Flags have a powerful role in our world— they bring people together, honor shared values, and tell a story of identity and pride. But flags aren’t just for countries; they’re also for communities. One such flag is the Disability Pride Flag, a symbol created to unite, empower, and celebrate people with disabilities all around the world.

Just as countries use flags to show who they are and what they stand for, communities of all kinds have created flags to express pride and solidarity. These flags are created with meaning, using colors and symbols to represent the diverse experiences, values, and identities of the people they represent. The Disability Pride Flag is one of these flags, offering a powerful way to bring visibility and awareness to the disability community.

The Story Behind the Disability Pride Flag

The first Disability Pride Flag was created by Ann Magill in 2019 to bring visibility and pride to the disability community. Ann is a disabled woman and has a passion for disability rights and social justice. When asked on The Accessible Stall podcast about what Disability pride means to her, she stated,

The creation of the flag began when Magill attended an event in 2010 for the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the ADA (Americans with Disabilities act of 1990). The event had advertised itself to be a celebration with music, a history show, food, and more. When she arrived, she found that it was held in the basement of an independent living center— complete with uninspired music played over a loudspeaker and a lackluster PowerPoint slideshow with generic facts.

She was disappointed to say the least. Her main takeaway from the event was how she and everyone else in the community deserve better. She wanted to celebrate with her community. Magill remarks, “That’s the opposite of what the ADA is about [...] I want a parade. I want a flag. I want a flag to wave.”

6 years later, In 2016, Magill watched a story on the news about a stabbing rampage which resulted in the death of 19 disabled people at a care home. Witnessing the news of such a devastating and horrific loss was heartbreaking enough, but to add insult to injury, the story only aired for half a day. This event was the tipping point, the day she decided someone has to do something, and that someone was going to be her. Margill told The Accessible Stall podcast, “I wanted to represent this rage and sorrow and hope and strength and Goddamit, we’re here. We exist.”

Thus began the three-year journey of creating the perfect flag to represent the disabled community.

Its original design featured diagonal, zigzag stripes against a dark background. The zigzag pattern was meant to symbolize how disabled people navigate barriers, and to highlight their creativity in doing so.

However, in 2021, the flag was redesigned to make it more accessible to easily overstimulated individuals. The new design features straight horizontal stripes, making it less visually intense for those with sensory sensitivities, and using colors that are more widely accessible. The colors were also reordered to accommodate individuals with red-green colorblindness.

This update emphasizes a core value within the disability community—creating spaces and symbols that are as inclusive as possible. The flag is seen as a collaborative design effort, with Marill noting that the new design beautifully reflects the community; Because the creation process relied on the community coming together to share suggestions and reach a solution to the problem.

The Colors of the Disability Pride Flag

The Disability Pride Flag has five colored stripes, and each color represents a unique part of the disability community. Here’s what each color means:

• Red: Represents physical disabilities, honoring individuals with mobility impairments and other physical conditions.

• Gold: Symbolizes neurodiversity, which encompasses individuals with conditions that affect cognitive functions, such as ADHD, autism, and dyslexia.

• White: Covers invisible and undiagnosed disabilities, representing those whose disabilities are not immediately apparent to others.

• Blue: Represents mental illness, acknowledging that mental health is a vital part of the disability identity.

• Green: Represents sensory disabilities, including deafness, blindness, lack of taste, lack of smell, audio processing disorder, and all other sensory disabilities.

The muted black background that the colorful band rests on is to represent mourning and anger for individuals who have been subjected to ableist violence and abuse. The diagonal positioning of the band is to symbolize cutting through and breaking down the walls and barriers that separate disabled individuals from mainstream society. It also represents light and creativity shining through the darkness.

Each color on the flag speaks to a different experience, just as flags for countries might include symbols or colors for history, natural resources, or cultural heritage. These colors on the Disability Pride Flag work together to send a message of inclusion, solidarity, pride, and acceptance.

Why the Disability Pride Flag Matters

The Disability Pride Flag reminds us that the disability community is strong, diverse, and deserves to be recognized and celebrated. Disability pride is about embracing identity, challenging stigmas, and fostering a society that values every person’s unique contributions.

Disability Pride Month is celebrated each July, which coincides with the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Disability Pride Flag is raised to bring awareness, advocate for rights, and honor the achievements of people with disabilities. Like the Stars and Stripes, it unites people—but in this case, it unites those who live with disabilities, and those who support them, encouraging everyone to work toward a more inclusive world.

For those new to the concept of pride flags, the Disability Pride Flag is a wonderful introduction to the way flags can bring visibility to communities and create awareness of diverse identities. It’s a reminder that every person’s experience matters, and every community deserves a voice.

So, the next time you see this beautiful flag with its colorful stripes, think about the stories and strengths it represents. Maybe even go out and get one for yourself to display in your garden to show your support for such a resilient community! Just as national flags wave for freedom and unity, the Disability Pride Flag flies for pride, resilience, and the power of community.

References

BBC. (2020, March 16). Satoshi Uematsu: Japanese man who killed 19 disabled people sentenced to death. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-51903289

Columbia University Irving Medical Center. (2023, July 3). History of the disability pride flag. Weinberg Family Cerebral Palsy Center. https://www.weinberg.cuimc.columbia.edu/news/history-disability-pride-flag

Episode 106: Disability Pride 2024. The Accessible Stall. (2024, July 26). https://www.theaccessiblestall.com/episode-transcripts/episode-106-the-accessible-stall-and-ann-magill/

MediLexicon International. (2021, November 8). Ableism: Types, examples, impact, and anti-ableism. Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/ableism

What is disability Pride? HEART. (n.d.). https://www.heartsc.org/what-is-disability-pride