Disability Pride Month

Disability Pride Month takes place in the month of July each year. 

Never Heard Of It?

It doesn’t surprise me. Firstly, even I was not particularly aware of it until recently. Secondly, even though 24% of the UK population live with a disability. Disability is not remotely at the media’s and most of society’s forefront.

Globally, 16% of the world has a disability. That is a huge number of people.

How Did Disability Pride Month Come About?

Disability Pride month came about after the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed on 26th July 1990. After the legislation was passed Boston held its first Disability Pride Day event and Disability Pride Month was born.

Every July since Disability Pride Month has been celebrated, so for over 30 years now and it has grown across American cities and the world.

What Is It?

To me Disability Pride month is a month about celebrating who we are. Raising awareness, challenging misperception and focusing on striving for a better future for disabled people.

The Disability Pride Flag 

The original Disability Pride flag was like a bolt of lightning. This affected some people with Migraines and Epilepsy so it has been slightly adapted by Ann Magill in July 2021.

Each colour of the flag represents a different group of disabled people.

Red=Physical disabilities

Yellow=Cognitive and intellectual disabilities

White=Invisible and undiagnosed disabilities

Blue=Mental illness

Green=Sensory perceptions disabilities

The black background represents the disabled people who have lost their lives not only to their illness, but also to negligence, suicide and eugenics.

The parallel lines indicate solidarity within the disabled community.

My Take On Disability Pride Month

What Do I Think About Disability Pride?

We should all take pride in who we are. We are all unique, but all have similar identities/characteristics we can relate to. That links us to a community, and sometimes more than one. The disabled community is very supportive.

I am proud of what I have achieved through challenging times. Also having a disability is nothing to be ashamed of. In all honesty, I think disabled/chronically ill people are fabulous. Life isn’t easy, but they are some of the most determined people I have met. We don’t give up. And we won’t give up until there is equity.

Raising Awareness

Disability Pride month is about raising awareness. Although, many disabled people are always trying to raise awareness. It is a month where disability should be highlighted to the general public, access and inclusion should be further championed. It would be great to get more organisations, companies and shops involved so that the impact can be as great as Pride month in June.

We have come so far with moving from disabled people being treated as second class citizens (although on occasional days it can still feel like that). We should remember all those who have made sacrifices to make this happen. Equally, we still have a long way to go to reach equity. 

Why shouldn’t I have the same respect, opportunities and access as everyone else? My life is just as valuable.

You might like to read: Helpful Tips When Talking to Wheelchair users and Disabled People or One Thing I wish non disabled people knew or understood.

Hannah x