Every July, Disability Pride Month celebrates the identities, achievements, contributions and experiences of disabled people.
It is a time to challenge stereotypes, raise awareness of disability, champion accessibility and inclusion, and recognise the diversity of disabled communities around the world.
What is Disability Pride Month?
Disability Pride Month began in the United States in 1990, the same year the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law to protect disabled people from discrimination and improve access to employment, public services, transport and everyday life.
The first Disability Pride Day was held in Boston later that year, and what started as a day of recognition has since grown into a global movement.
It is an opportunity to raise awareness of disability, start positive conversations, challenge stigma and celebrate the diversity, identity, achievements and contributions of the disabled community.
The month also recognises that disabled people still face barriers, including inaccessible environments, assumptions, exclusion and discrimination.
Marking Disability Pride Month helps keep these issues visible while creating space for disabled voices, lived experiences and leadership.
Disability Pride Flag
A well-known symbol of the month is the Disability Pride Flag. It's colours represent different experiences within the disability community.
The flag is a reminder that disability is not one single experience, and that inclusion must recognise many different needs and identities.
What do the colours represent?
Red – Physical impairments and conditions.
Gold – Neurodiversity.
White – Non-visible, and undiagnosed impairments and conditions.
Blue – Emotional and psychiatric conditions, including mental health, anxiety and depression.
Green – Hearing impaired, vision impaired, audio processing and all other sensory impairments and conditions.
Charcoal background – represents people in the community who have experienced ableism, and to protest against this.
Who celebrates Disability Pride Month?
Disability Pride Month is for anyone who is disabled, but also for families, friends, colleagues, allies, organisations and businesses who want to show support by celebrating disabled people and disabled communities.
It is a time for embracing disability identity positively, recognising lived experience and challenging the negative attitudes, stereotypes and barriers that can hold disabled people back.
For workplaces and businesses, it is an opportunity to reflect on how inclusive their culture, policies, recruitment processes, communications, events and physical or digital spaces are.
Allyship should go beyond a single month by involving disabled people in decisions, removing barriers and continuing to improve accessibility throughout the year.
How is it celebrated?
Disability Pride Month is celebrated in a variety of ways that reflect the diversity of the disability community. For some, it is a time of personal reflection, self-acceptance, and pride in their identity, as well as recognition of progress towards greater inclusion and accessibility.
For others, it involves coming together with friends, family, colleagues, and wider communities to raise awareness, challenge stereotypes, and promote understanding.
Celebrations can include sharing personal experiences and achievements, highlighting ongoing barriers, and advocating for more inclusive ways of living and working.
Community activities may feature gatherings, festivals, food, music, and performances, while workplaces and organisations often mark the month through panel discussions, town halls, awareness campaigns, lunch-and-learn sessions, and keynote speakers.
Learn more
To find out more about Disability Pride Month, please use the links below:
Scope charity: Disability Pride Month.
YouTube video from BBC Newsround: What is Disability Pride Month? | Newsround.
YouTube video: What Is Disability Pride Month and Why It Matters More Than Ever!