July is Disability Pride Month!

For the past 32 years, July has been an important month for the disability community. Originating in the United States it’s when the Americans With Disabilities Act was passed in 1990.

Since then cities across the world have followed suit celebrating this month with activities including parades, smaller community celebrations, artistic and educational events, and articles using Disability Pride Month as a prompt to discuss a wide range of disability issues and experiences.

Disability is a spectrum encompassing a vast uniqueness of illnesses. However, it is important to recognise that, contrary to the societal norm, disability should not be seen as existing “without.” 

There is no single point of organisation or definition for Disability Pride Month. However, the overall essence is to give the disability community a positive light, and create space for more people with disabilities to explore our own lives as disabled people in positive and public ways.

Disability Pride Flag which was created by Ann Magill, a disabled woman.

The meaning behind the FLAG design is outlined as follows by The Flags for Good Movement:

The Black Field: A colour of mourning; for those who have suffered from ableist violence, and also rebellion and protest.

The Zigzag/Lightning Bolt: How disabled people must navigate barriers, and the creativity in doing so; breaking free from normative authority and body control.

The Five Colours: The variety of needs and experiences (mental illness, intellectual and developmental disability, invisible and undiagnosed disabilities, physical disability, and sensory disabilities).

The Parallel Stripes: Solidarity within the disability community and all its differences.’

A story of disability pride in Australia

In 2017, Melbourne based artist and disability culture activist, Larissa MacFarlane created her first disability pride mural.

“I’m 51-years-old, and I also am 21-years-old,” Larissa told Inform. “I have a brain injury.”

“So, I acquired a brain injury coming up to 22 years ago. I think living with a brain injury, like probably living with any other type of disability… makes you really different in the world. And for a long time, I found it really difficult to sort of identify with my brain injury in a positive way, because all the messages around me [were] sort of saying that I was a tragedy, and that it was so sad that I had lost, you know, things and I was also seen as difficult and so it took me a long time to sort of start to see my brain injury… see the great things that have come out of it.

“And also, to see the value in disability and disabled culture. And part of that was owning how old I am. Because literally, when you have a brain injury, your world changes, your personality changes, and you have to learn everything again. And in some ways, I’m really young. But I’m also really old.”

Larissa MacFarlane created her first disability pride mural above in 2017.

Watch a short documentary film telling the story of Australia’s first Disability Pride Mural, located in Footscray, Melbourne/Naarm. It features MacFarlane and many other prominent members of Melbourne's disability/arts community, such as Jax Jacki Brown, Carly Findlay and Hannah Morphy Walsh.

How can we as individuals support disability pride month?

At is core Disability Pride Month is a time to share, grow and understand. Whether you have a disability, know someone who does or just feel the need ‘know more’… there are a some simple things we can do to support the Disabled Community.

Listen

Podcasts are a great way to feel connected to like-minded people and discovering new ideas. Listen to our top podcasts that are disability-related and always promote inclusion and accessibility. READ our story on 5 of the best disability podcasts.

READ

We encourage you to pick up a book this month that represents disability in different ways. Get started by READING our post on Children’s Books about Autism.

Watch

Movies that show characters with disabilities can help build understanding, compassion, and tolerance among viewers who don't face those challenges and give those who do a chance to see relatable people on-screen.

“Disability Pride Month is a time for all disabled people to unapologetically celebrate our bodies as they are. Whether you are disabled or an ally, Disability Pride Month is full of so much to celebrate.”

- Daphne Frias Gen Z activist focused on disability justice, climate justice & community organising