July is Disability Pride Month, and as we raise our voices and celebrate disability identity, it’s also a time to raise the Disability Pride Flag — a symbol of visibility, solidarity, and strength in the face of exclusion.

At Avenues, we believe symbols matter. They give shape to movements, spark conversation, and tell the world: We are here.

So what does the Disability Pride Flag represent?

The Flag: A Symbol of Power and Pride

The current Disability Pride Flag was designed in 2021 by artist and disabled activist Ann Magill, with feedback from the disability community. It’s bold. It’s beautiful. And every part of it is full of meaning.

Her aim was to design a flag that represented the entire disability community — one that acknowledged our struggles, our strengths, and our diversity.

Ann gifted the flag to the public domain, ensuring that anyone, anywhere, could use it freely to show pride, solidarity, and resistance. Her thoughtful and inclusive approach is a reminder of what disability leadership looks like.

Here’s what each element represents:

🖤 Black Field

The black background represents the mourning and anger over the oppression and discrimination that people with disability have faced — and still face — around the world. It also honours those we’ve lost to ableist violence, neglect, suicide, and institutionalisation.

🟦🟩🟨🟧🟥 The Diagonal Stripes

Five coloured stripes slash diagonally across the flag, representing the diversity of disability experiences, and the need for intersectional pride. The diagonal placement symbolises cutting across barriers — physical, emotional, societal.

Each colour has its own powerful meaning:

• Red – Physical disabilities
• Gold (Yellow) – Neurodiversity
• White – Invisible and undiagnosed disabilities
• Blue – Psychiatric disabilities
• Green – Sensory disabilities (deaf, blind, etc.)

The original version of the flag used zig-zag stripes and a high-contrast palette, but it was updated for accessibility, including for people with migraines, epilepsy, or visual sensitivity.

Why It Matters

The Disability Pride Flag is more than just a design — it’s a declaration. It challenges invisibility. It pushes back against shame. It tells a story of resistance and survival, of pride and power, of community and colour.

When you see the flag flying, on a screen, in a window, or on a t-shirt, you’re seeing a message loud and clear: People with disability belong.

Flying the Flag at Avenues

At Avenues, we don’t just fly the flag during Disability Pride Month. We live its values year-round — by supporting self-determination, speaking out against ableism, and walking alongside our community with respect and care.

This month, we invite you to learn more about the flag, share it proudly, and keep the conversation going. Pride isn’t just for July — it’s for life.