People with disabilities will of course be aware of International Day of People with Disabilities. What they might be less aware of is Disability Pride Month.
Although Disability Pride Month started to celebrate the signing of the Americans' with Disabilities Act it is slowly being adopted by disabled people around the world as a sign of disabled pride.
For too long in human history having a disability has been something to be hidden away from in the community.
Disabled Pride Month allows people with disabilities to take back our power.
Taking inspiration from the LGBTQIA+ flag, disabled pride has our own flag.
A flag designed by writer Ann Magill. The flag's design represents different types of disability by individual coloured lines sitting parallel to each other to indicate solidarity.
The colour scheme is as follows: white represents people with invisible disabilities, red represents those of us with physical disabilities, blue represents individuals with mental illness, green represents people with sensory disabilities, and yellow or gold represents people with intellectual disabilities or cognitive impairment.
The five colours are placed diagonally on the black background to symbolise people with disabilities cutting across boundaries and bringing creativity, hope, and light to the world. While the black background itself is in memory of people with disabilities as a result of ableist violence and also as a sign of rebellion to make sure people with disabilities are represented strong.
Throughout history flags have been used as a symbol of national pride, racial pride, and pride in diverse sexualities. Now people with disabilities have our own flag to wave as a symbol of pride.
Parallel Pride
I fly the flag of rebellion, I will not hide;
I live my disability with pride.
I live my physical disability on the thin red line
As I take control of this life of mine.
The red line is followed by the white
To represent disability you cannot see.
The blue represents mental health,
The disability of stealth.
The green line represents the disabilities that are sensory;
The gold symbolises intellectual disability.
The black background is in memory of comrades
who have died for me.
The diagonal lines have cut through barriers like me and my katana.
I live my life as a man with my disability side by side;
Equal man and disability with parallel pride.
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