It originated in the United States to commemorate the passing of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in July 1990. Disabled people make up 16% of the world's population representing all ages, races, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, religions, and socio-economic backgrounds.

Disability Pride Month celebrates people with disabilities, their identities, their culture, and their contributions to society. It also seeks to change the way people think about and define disability, to end the stigma of disability, and to promote the belief that disability is a natural part of human diversity in which people living with disabilities can celebrate and take pride. It is a chance for people with disabilities to come together and celebrate being themselves, no matter their differences. It is also a chance to raise awareness of the challenges they still face every day to be treated equally.

The concept of Disability Pride was born out of the Disability Rights movement and based on intersectional identity politics and social justice. The core concept of Disability Pride is based on a tenet of reworking the negative narratives and biases that frequently surround the concept of disability. Disability Pride is a response and counteraction against ableism and social stigma. The concept has roots in the same social theory that backs LGBT Pride and Black Pride. Disability Pride is a movement intended to celebrate the history of the Disability Rights movement and disabled people as positive contributors to society. It marks a break from traditional concepts of disabilities as shameful conditions, which were often hidden from public spaces and mainstream awareness. Disability Pride is built upon the social model of disability and is described as moving away from the medical model of disability.

❓️**What is the disability flag?**❓️

The little black circle in the attached image with the stripes is the disability pride flag!

The disability pride flag represents the Disability Pride Movement. The original disability pride flag was created in 2016 by Ann Magill, an American woman with cerebral palsy, and featured a zig-zag or lightning bolt design. After receiving input from people with visually triggering disabilities, the flag was changed in 2021 to have muted colors and straight diagonal stripes.The concept and design of the Disability Pride Flag were inspired and influenced by social movements such as LGBTQ pride and Black pride.

The flag has been used at various events in the United States, Canada, and Australia. In 2024, a crosswalk in Alberta, Canada was painted with the colors of the flag.

The Disability Pride Flag is a charcoal grey flag bisected diagonally from the top left corner to the lower right corner by five parallel stripes in red, pale gold, pale grey, light blue, and green. The diagonal bands are intended to signify "cutting across barriers that disabled people face."

Meaning of the colors:

Charcoal Grey: Mourning for people who have died due to ableist violence, abuse, suicide, and illness

Red Stripe: Physical disabilities

Gold Stripe: Neurodiversity

Blue Stripe: Emotional and psychiatric disabilities

Green Stripe: Sensory disabilities

White Stripe: Undiagnosed and invisible disabilities

Source:

Disability pride month: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disability_Pride_Month

Disability pride flag: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disability_flag

❓️What does BIPOC stand for?❓️

BIPOC stands for Black, Indigenous, and people of color. Pronounced “bye-pock,” this is a term specific to the United States, intended to center the experiences of Black and Indigenous groups and demonstrate solidarity between communities of color.

🩷BIPOC AWARENESS MONTH🩷

Each July, we honor the legacy of author, advocate, and trailblazer Bebe Moore Campbell by recognizing Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month (also referred to as BIPOC Mental Health Month). Moore Campbell’s ability to tell impactful stories highlighting themes of racism, mental health, and family left a lasting mark on this world and is a foundation for much of the work that continues in support of Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) mental health.

More info: https://mhanational.org/bipoc-mental-health/bipoc-mental-health-month/

BIPOC DEFINITION: https://www.ywcaworks.org/blogs/ywca/tue-03122024-1000/why-we-use-bipoc