Disability pride month
July is Disability Pride Month. The first Disability Pride started in Boston, MA in 1990 but it has since become an international celebration. The aim of Disability Pride is described by the founders of Disability Pride NYC to “promote inclusion, awareness, and visibility of people with disabilities, and redefine public perception of disability”.
The disability pride flag
The Disability Pride flag has some very interesting symbolism interpreted by the artist which include:
The Black Field: this field is to represent the disabled people who have lost their lives due to not only their illness, but also negligence, suicide, and eugenics.
The Lightning Bolt: the shape of the lightning bold represent the non-lateral lives that many disabled people live, often having to adapt themselves or their physical routes to get around an inaccessible society.
The Colours: each colour on this flag represents a different aspect of disability or impairment:
Blue: mental illness
Yellow: cognitive and intellectual disabilities
Green: sensory perception disabilities
Red: physical disabilities
The white stripe stands for invisible and undiagnosed disabilities. So even if you are struggling to get a diagnosis or worry your lack of diagnosis means you don’t belong, you absolutely do.
You are part of our history, our community and our fight.
Happy Disability Pride Month.
