by Ali Bates, Tech Advisor
July is Disability Pride Month, a time for us in the disabled community to celebrate self-acceptance and embrace our disabilities. This month is not just about pride in spite of our challenges, but about the powerful impact we can make when we share our experiences and use our voices to educate and empower others.
For a long time, I struggled with the meaning of this month because I felt uncertain about expressing pride in my disability. I am certain that I am proud of myself, and my disability is a large part of who I am. I’ve come to understand that Disability Pride Month is about much more than individual achievements. It’s about sparking conversations, raising awareness, and inspiring people outside of the disabled community to become better allies.
I have had the privilege to use my voice and my experiences with my disability to educate and empower others. By sharing my journey, I have helped to make the future more inclusive and accessible, allowing those with disabilities to thrive. This month gives us, as disabled individuals, a platform for increased visibility and an opportunity to demonstrate our capabilities, creativity, and resilience.
The Disability Pride flag, designed by Ann Magill in 2017 and updated in 2021, beautifully encapsulates the essence of our community. Each element of the flag symbolizes a different aspect of our experiences:
- The charcoal background represents those in our community who have faced ableist violence and symbolizes our ongoing protests.
- The “band/road” shape illustrates the barriers we navigate in our lives.
- The different colours within the shape celebrate our creativity in overcoming challenges and breaking free from limitations.
Each colour signifies different experiences and needs within the community:
- Green for sensory disabilities
- Blue for mental illness
- White for invisible disabilities
- Yellow for developmental disabilities
- Red for physical disabilities
Happy Disability Pride Month! Let’s continue to raise our voices, share our stories, and create a world where inclusivity and accessibility are the norms, not the exceptions.
Ali with her daughters Niamh and Siobhan at a Pink concert
