Disability Pride Month

Disability Pride Month recognizes the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) that was passed on July 26, 1990. The ADA prohibits the discrimination of individuals with disabilities in areas such as employment, access to government services, communications, and public accommodations. Disability Pride Month has been celebrated since 1990 during the month of July and encourages individuals with disabilities to celebrate themselves and communities to stand up against ableist mindsets. Instead of focusing on the more medical model of defining disability, Disability Pride Month centers on a social model that redefines disability to focus on the inequities imposed by society as opposed to changing the person with the disability. Although Disability Pride Month was not formally recognized by the federal government as of 2022, multiple states plan for and celebrate the month by holding disability pride-related events and flying the disability pride flag in recognition.

Background

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a civil rights law ensuring that people with disabilities have the same opportunities as those without disabilities. The 1990 signing of the ADA by President George H.W. Bush was a monumental event for many people. In 2022, estimates placed those covered by the act to be close to fifty million. After the act was passed, the city of Boston held its first Disability Pride Day parade and was soon followed by other cities throughout the nation from Los Angeles to New York. Celebrations have also grown internationally in England and South Africa. Disability Pride Day became Pride Month in July 2015 to mark the twenty-fifth anniversary of the ADA’s passage. The month-long festivities afford more recognition to those involved and put the month in-line with other pride celebrations. During Disability Pride Month, some individuals heard positive dialogue about those with disabilities for the first time. Like other marginalized groups, the history, accomplishments, and struggles of people with disabilities are noticeably absent from most history texts. These include Ralph Braun, who had muscular dystrophy and became known as “the father of the mobility movement” because his ideas led to the creation of wheelchair lifts, accessible vans, and scooters. They also include John Nash, who had accurate paranoid schizophrenia, and in 1994 earned the Nobel Prize in Economics. The film A Beautiful Mind tells the story of his life.

The word “pride” in Disability Pride Month indicates that is not a time for pity or to look for ways to change or improve individuals with disabilities. It is instead a time to honor the uniqueness of individuals for the diversity they bring to the world. This social justice approach stands in stark contrast to medical models of recognition that highlight how someone’s life can be improved once their disability is removed or modified through technology and/or medical science. The switch in focus aims to eradicate ableism in the United States and throughout the world. Ableism is the belief that abilities are highly favored over disabilities. It perpetuates negative stereotypes and misinformation about disabilities and those who have them. Disability Pride Month also aims to normalize conversations about disability and remove the stigma for those with disabilities. For example, at least 25 percent of US adults have a disability, though most of them attempt to hide it to whatever extent possible. This is especially true of individuals with mental and invisible disabilities.

Overview

Although there is no legal holiday recognizing Disability Pride Month, parades and other celebrations have become more common. Businesses have also begun celebrating the month and becoming vocal allies. While the move makes sense from an ethical standpoint, it is also a wise one economically. People with disabilities, including their family members and caregivers, represent two trillion dollars annually in disposable income. Inclusive businesses also report 30 percent higher profit margins, while those businesses that exclude people with disabilities can see losses of 7 percent of gross domestic product. Businesses are also encouraged to recognize ways they can provide more meaningful experiences for their customers and clients who have disabilities instead of focusing on how someone’s disability prevents them from engaging fully in society.

Individuals can also be allies. Advocates encourage people with questions about a disability to ask someone for information. Encouraging open dialogue and thoughtful conversations helps to destigmatize disabilities. Asking individuals about themselves or their disabilities also gives those with disabilities an opportunity to educate others about themselves. Mat Fraser is an actor with a disability who has starred in the series His Dark Materials and American Horror Story. Fraser believes that discussion is key to promote further acceptance of those with disabilities. He works to promote the integration of the disability community into the entertainment industry.

To further illustrate pride and promote the self-esteem of those who have a disability, as well as increase visibility, the award-winning artist Ann Magill designed the disability pride flag in 2019. The flag consists of red, gold, white, blue, and green zigzag stripes on a black background. The zigzag pattern acknowledges navigating obstacles, with each stripe representing a different type of disability: red, physical disabilities; yellow, neurodivergence; white, invisible and/or undiagnosed disabilities; blue, psychiatric disabilities; and green, sensory disabilities. The black background, which is above and below the lines, pays respect to those individuals with disabilities who are/were victims of violence and abuse. In 2021, Magill slightly redesigned the flag, changing the zigzag pattern to diagonal stripes. The new diagonal pattern is more conducive to those with certain visually triggered disabilities and represents solidarity within the community. The previous zigzag design sometimes created a flicker effect when scrolling online.

Bibliography

Block, Becca. “Have You Seen the New Disability Pride Flag?” RespectAbility, 15 July 2022, www.respectability.org/2022/07/disability-pride-flag/. Accessed 28 Apr. 2025.

“Disability Pride Month Celebrates Americans with Disabilities Act Anniversary.” U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Italy, 25 July 2022, it.usembassy.gov/disability-pride-month-celebrates-americans-with-disabilities-act-anniversary/. Accessed 28 Apr. 2024.

"History of the Disability Pride Flag." Weinberg Family Cerebral Palsy Center, Columbia University, 3 July 2023, www.weinberg.cuimc.columbia.edu/news/history-disability-pride-flag. Accessed 28 Apr. 2024.

Resnick, Ariane. “How to Be an Ally During Disability Pride Month.” Very Well Mind, 12 July 2023, www.verywellmind.com/understanding-disability-pride-month-5193069. Accessed 28 Apr. 2023.

“Understanding Disability Pride Month.” American Bar Association, 2022, www.americanbar.org/groups/diversity/resources/celebrating-heritage-months/disability-pride-month/. Accessed 28 Apr. 2024.

“What Is the Americans with Disabilities Act?” ADA National Network, Oct. 2022, adata.org/learn-about-ada. Accessed 28 Apr. 2024.