Disability flag

Disability Pride Flag
Disability Flag
UseSymbol of the Disability community and the Disability Pride Movement
Adopted2021
DesignA 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. Designed to be visually safe and inclusive.
Designed byAnn Magill

The Disability Flag, Disability Pride Flag or Flag of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is a flag that represents people with any kind of disabilities. It was created by the disabled activist Ann Magill.

Disability Pride flag

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The Disability Pride flag represents the Disability Pride Movement. The original Disability Pride flag was created in 2019 by Ann Magill,[1][2] a disabled woman, and featured a zig-zag or lightning bolt design.[3] After receiving input from people with visually triggering disabilities, the flag was changed in 2021 to have muted colors and straight diagonal stripes.[4][5][6][7] The concept and design of the Disability Pride Flag were inspired and influenced by social movements such as LGBT pride and Black pride.[citation needed]

The flag has been used at various events in the United States, Canada, and Australia.[8][9][10] In 2024, a crosswalk in Alberta, Canada was painted with the colors of the flag.[11]

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.[12][13] The diagonal bands are intended to signify "cutting across barriers that disabled people face."[12]

Meaning of the colors:[12][14]

Gold-Silver-Bronze flag

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The Gold-Silver-Bronze Flag was one of the first attempts to unify the community

There were several attempts to create a flag that represented all disabilities. The Gold-Silver-Bronze Disability Flag aimed mainly to highlight the achievements and value of disabled individuals in society.[citation needed] The flag was designed with a metallic color scheme inspired by the medals awarded in sports and competitions, especially the paralympics. The idea behind this design was to emphasize the worthiness, accomplishments, and contributions of disabled people, countering societal narratives that often focused on limitations rather than strengths. On December 3, 2017, at the United Nations' International Day of Persons with Disabilities, parliamentarians from Latin American countries gathered in a plenary assembly in Peru.[15] By acclamation, they declared the flag to be the symbol of all people with disabilities. On the same day, the flag was handed over to the European headquarters of the United Nations.[16][17] Many Spanish cities and municipalities display the flag on the International Day of People with Disabilities. In 2018, the flag was shown in the city of Santa Cruz de La Palma on the Canary Island of La Palma.[18] On December 3, 2018, the flag was adopted by the "Foment d'Esportistes amb Reptes" (FER), an Olympic and Paralympic sports organization in Spain.[19][20]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Observing Disability Pride Month this July". Human Rights Watch. 2022-07-22. Retrieved 2022-07-28.
  2. ^ "Disability Pride Month 2022". Bracknell Forest Council. 29 June 2022. Retrieved 2022-07-28.
  3. ^ "Disability Pride Month". Inclusive Employers. Retrieved 2022-07-28.
  4. ^ R. Bogart, Kathleen (2021-07-01). "Disability Pride Month: Disability Is Broader Than You Think". Psychology Today Canada. Retrieved 2022-07-28.
  5. ^ "Disability Pride Flag: everything you need to know". URevolution. 2 July 2018. Retrieved 2022-07-28.
  6. ^ Italy, U. S. Mission (2022-07-25). "Disability Pride Month celebrates Americans with Disabilities Act anniversary". U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Italy. Retrieved 2022-07-28.
  7. ^ "July Is Disability Pride Month". SBU News. 2022-07-06. Retrieved 2022-07-28.
  8. ^ Wright, Elizabeth; Edmonds, Celina (2 December 2022). "'We're different, not less': Meet these Australians flying the flag for Disability Pride". ABC News.
  9. ^ Gabir, Fatima (6 March 2025). "San Diego Unified Hosts First Disability Awareness Flag-Raising Event". Times of San Diego.
  10. ^ Dobruck, Jeremiah (19 June 2024). "Long Beach will fly the Disability Pride flag during the month of July". Long Beach Post News.
  11. ^ Keaton, Barry (8 July 2024). "Beyond Local: Northern Alberta town home to Canada's first Disability Pride crosswalk". Western Wheel.
  12. ^ a b c Méndez, Lola (17 February 2025). "Understanding the Design of the Disability Pride Flag". Good Housekeeping.
  13. ^ Langtree, Ian C. (19 April 2025). "Disability Pride Flag: Meaning, Symbolism, and Community Significance | DW". www.disabled-world.com. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
  14. ^ "History of the Disability Pride Flag". Weinberg Family Cerebral Palsy Center. 3 July 2023.
  15. ^ "I Encuentro Latinoamericano de Discapacidad, Cultura y Responsabilidad Social". Puntos de Cultura (in Spanish). Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  16. ^ "La bandera de las personas con discapacidad". ABC Blogs (in Spanish). 17 December 2017. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  17. ^ "Las bandera de la discapacidad". rehatrans.com (in European Spanish). Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  18. ^ Rodriguez Gonzalez, Roman (2009), "Ayuntamiento de Deza", Reformar la Administracion Territorial. Municipios eficientes y viables, Netbiblo, pp. 201–230, doi:10.4272/978-84-9745-271-7.ch10, ISBN 978-84-9745-271-7, retrieved 31 March 2021
  19. ^ R. D. (3 December 2018). "El Proyecto FER apadrina la bandera de la discapacidad". Las Provincias (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  20. ^ "Qué es". Proyecto FER (in European Spanish). Retrieved 31 March 2021.
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