Understanding the Disability Pride Flag
In honor of Disability Pride Month (July), some SCI Team Members may choose to use a Disability Pride Flag virtual background. More than a colorful design, the flag is a symbol of community, visibility, inclusion, and pride.
This post provides information on the Disability Pride Flag and it’s design. SCI Team Members can access a downloadable virtual background from the Marketing & Communications page on SCI’s intranet site (also called SCoUT).
A Flag Created by the Disability Community
The most widely used Disability Pride Flag was created by disability advocate Ann Magill in 2021. Magill, who has cerebral palsy, originally designed a Disability Pride Flag in 2019 after attending an ADA anniversary event and feeling that disability visibility deserved a more public presence.
The original design featured bright, zigzagging stripes intended to represent the barriers people with disabilities navigate every day. After receiving feedback from people with visually triggered disabilities and others in the disability community, Magill redesigned the flag to make it more accessible. The result is the version most commonly used today: five muted, diagonal stripes on a charcoal gray background. You can read Magill’s own thoughts on the flag design on her Tumbler feed.
One of the most meaningful aspects of the flag is that it reflects collaboration. Community members worked together to improve the design, ensuring it was inclusive and accessible to more people. Magill later placed the design in the public domain so it could be freely used, shared, and adapted by the disability community.
What the Flag Represents
The flag features five diagonal stripes crossing a charcoal gray background.
The diagonal lines symbolize breaking through barriers and moving beyond the obstacles that have historically separated disabled people from full participation in society. They also represent creativity, resilience, and light cutting through darkness.
The charcoal gray background represents mourning and remembrance for disabled people who have experienced exclusion, discrimination, violence, and systemic ableism.
Each stripe represents a different part of the disability community:
- Red – Physical disabilities
- Gold – Cognitive and intellectual disabilities, including neurodivergence
- Blue – Psychiatric and mental health disabilities
- Green – Sensory disabilities
- White – Invisible, undiagnosed, or non-apparent disabilities
The colors were intentionally muted to reduce the risk of triggering eye strain, migraines, or other visually related disabilities, reinforcing the principle that accessibility should be built into design from the beginning.
Disability Pride Month and the ADA
Disability Pride Month is celebrated each July in recognition of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which was signed into law on July 26, 1990. The ADA was a landmark civil rights law that prohibited discrimination against people with disabilities and helped expand access and opportunity across many areas of life.
What began as a day of celebration eventually grew into Disability Pride Month, with the first official month-long observance taking place in July 2015, marking the ADA’s 25th anniversary.
Why It Matters at SCI
At SCI, we believe all people should experience the quality of life they choose and be valued in and by their communities. Disability Pride Month is an opportunity to celebrate the strength, contributions, leadership, and lived experiences of people with disabilities while recognizing the ongoing work needed to build a more inclusive society.
We encourage you to learn more about disability history, or engage in conversations about accessibility and inclusion, your participation helps foster awareness, connection, and belonging.
Please join SCI in celebrating Disability Pride Month and the diverse experiences, perspectives, and contributions of the disability community. Together, we can continue building communities where everyone is seen, valued, and empowered to thrive.
The links below share more information about Disability Pride Month and the flag designed by Ann Magill.
- Why and How to Celebrate Disability Pride Month from The Arc
- About The Original Artist of the Disability Flag from Disability Pride Sydney
- Read a transcript of Ann Magill’s interview on THE ACCESSIBLE STALL with Kyle and Emily podcast.