When people think of “Pride Month,” they often think of June, rainbow flags, parades, and LGBTQIA+ celebrations. But July holds another powerful movement, one that’s equally rooted in visibility, resistance, and identity: Disability Pride Month.
Originally born in the United States following the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in July 1990, Disability Pride Month has grown, slowly but steadily, into a larger international observance. While still not as well known globally (and almost invisible in some places), the core idea behind the month transcends borders:
Being disabled is not something to be ashamed of.
It is a part of human diversity. A part of who we are.
Why It Matters, Even Without Parades
Unlike LGBTQIA+ Pride, Disability Pride Month often lacks the pageantry, the colour, the media buzz. In many places, especially here in Canada, there are no parades, no government acknowledgements, and no sweeping awareness campaigns. But that doesn’t mean we aren’t celebrating.
For many of us, this month is about:
- Reclaiming pride in a body or mind that society has told us to fix or hide
- Honouring how far we’ve come and how much work still remains
- Making space for stories that go untold the rest of the year
Whether through blog posts, short videos, memes, or long-form education pieces, Disability Pride Month gives us a platform to push back against invisibility.
Disability and the Word “Pride”
Before we go further, it’s worth pausing on the word itself: “Pride.”
Not everyone in the disability community feels fully comfortable with this term. Some find it empowering, a way to reclaim identity and visibility, much like the LGBTQIA+ community has done. Others, however, find it complicated, exclusionary, or even inappropriate.
That discomfort can come from many places:
- The overlap with LGBTQIA+ language which may not reflect every disabled person’s experience
- The pressure to feel “proud” of a body or mind that’s still in pain or constantly battling barriers
- Cultural, religious, or personal values that don’t frame disability in terms of pride
And that’s okay.
Disability Pride Month isn’t a requirement, it’s an invitation.
An invitation to reflect, to speak up (or not), to exist unapologetically in whatever way you can.
You don’t have to feel pride all the time to be valid.
You don’t need to post, protest, or wear a sash.
You just need to be.
Disability Flags: Symbols of Identity, Visibility, and Resistance
Disability Pride Month, like other identity-based movements, has visual symbols. And over the years, the community has created more than one flag, each serving a different purpose or moment in time.
The 2021 Disability Pride Flag (Ann Magill Redesign)
The current Disability Pride Flag, redesigned by Ann Magill in 2021 to improve accessibility and reduce visual overstimulation, is the most widely recognised and used flag today.
This version features:
- A black background, representing mourning and rage for those whose lives have been lost due to ableism, abuse, and neglect.
- Five diagonal stripes in distinct colours, each representing a major category of disability:
- Red – physical disabilities
- Gold – neurodivergence
- White – invisible and undiagnosed disabilities
- Blue – psychiatric disabilities
- Green – sensory disabilities
The diagonal design reflects the creativity, adaptability, and forward momentum of disabled people navigating barriers, instead of being forced into rigid or “symmetrical” systems.
This flag is intentionally low-contrast, high in accessibility, and designed with consideration for people with photosensitivity, visual processing challenges, and neurodivergence.
The Gold, Silver, and Bronze Flag
Before the current pride flag gained recognition, there was another, a flag made up of three horizontal stripes:
- Gold on top
- Silver in the middle
- Bronze on the bottom
This flag was designed to symbolise achievement, strength, and value, drawing from the medals awarded in competitions. It aimed to push back against narratives of pity or tragedy by highlighting resilience and excellence among disabled individuals.
While not as commonly used today in public events or official materials, this flag still appears in online communities and personal projects. It holds a place in disability history as one of the earliest attempts to visualise disability identity in a unified way.
Do You Need to Use a Flag?
No. Flags are symbols, powerful ones, but not required. Some people proudly display the new Disability Pride Flag. Others never use any symbol at all. Some use multiple, especially if they’re part of overlapping communities, such as the Deaf community or the LGBTQIA+ community.
Whatever your comfort level, learning what these flags mean helps connect your story to a larger narrative of identity, resistance, and pride.
A Canadian Lens on Disability Pride
Here in Canada, disability rights are governed by a patchwork of provincial rules, the Canadian Human Rights Code, and the more recent Accessible Canada Act. Unlike the U.S. ADA, we don’t have one single, strong national law that’s widely understood by the public. This difference shapes how disability is experienced and legislated across the country, and makes raising awareness all the more important.
While Disability Pride Month is still relatively unknown here, more and more disabled Canadians are using July as a time to speak out, share lived experiences, and advocate for change, both locally and globally.
What to Expect This Month
Throughout July, I’ll be publishing content that explores:
- Barriers disabled Canadians face year-round (like winter snow, transit, and public access)
- Stories and posts that reflect both personal experience and systemic challenges
- Insights on service dogs, policy gaps, and accessibility in practice
- Inspirational quotes and reflections on pride, survival, and community
Some posts will be serious, others hopeful, some a mix of both. Because being disabled is not one-dimensional, and our pride doesn’t have to be, either.
Pride Without Permission
You don’t need to be part of a parade to have pride.
You don’t need to be fully healed or “doing amazing” to be worthy of visibility.
You don’t even have to be out about your disability to find value in this month.
Disability Pride Month is about presence.
It’s about recognising our value in a world that often erases us.
And this month, I’ll be showing up, in my own way, to say:
I’m still here. I’m disabled. And I’m proud.