July is Disability Pride Month, a time to reflect on the barriers that continue to impact people with disabilities, many of whom continue to face systemic ableism and discrimination in everyday life. In health care, access to safe, inclusive, and barrier-free services remains a significant challenge. Recognizing these gaps is essential to driving change and ensuring equity for all.
This month offers a meaningful opportunity to celebrate the uniqueness of disabilities as a natural part of human diversity. It also highlights the contributions that individuals with disabilities make to society. In Canada, approximately 8 million people live with disabilities—both visible and invisible—including physical, sensory, and psychiatric disabilities, and neurodivergence.
Disability Pride Month is observed annually in July to commemorate the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in July 1990—a landmark civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on disability. That same year, the first Disability Pride Parade took place in Boston. Since then, Disability Pride Month has grown into a global celebration, recognized by countries around the world.
To learn more about Disability Pride Month, please click here.
Disability Pride Flag
Flags are symbols of solidarity and pride, and can help to raise awareness and visibility. The Disability Pride Flag was originally designed by disabled writer, artist, and activist Ann Magill in 2019. The original flag featured the coloured stripes of the current flag in a zigzag formation, representing creativity when navigating obstacles.
In 2021, Magill redesigned the flag to its present configuration, after learning from members of the disability community that the zigzag created a strobe effect on computer and phone screens, potentially triggering symptoms for those who live with epileptic seizures and migraines.
The meanings and colours of the flag are as follows:
- All six flag colours: The six colours are the standard colours of international flags, to represent that disability affects individuals worldwide
- Charcoal Black background: Honoring the memory of individuals with disabilities who have passed away due to violence, abuse, neglect, and other injustices, while also expressing protest and anger against the mistreatment they endure
- Diagonal Band: The band represents a contrast between vertical walls and horizontal ceilings that isolate people with disabilities, and cutting across societal barriers. The placement of the colours in the band is also significant, helping to reduce symptom triggers and improve contrast
- Red Stripe: Physical disabilities
- Gold Stripe: Neurodivergence
- White Stripe: Invisible and undiagnosed disabilities
- Blue Stripe: Psychiatric disabilities
- Green Stripe: Sensory disabilities
Disability Pride Month – Reading List
For Disability Pride Month in 2022, CBC compiled a list of 12 books that illustrate the importance of accurate representation for those living with disabilities. The list contains works of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, books for Young Adults, and children’s books.
For detailed descriptions of each book, please click here.