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Disability Pride Month: An Explanation of the Flag

Disability Pride Month: An Explanation of the Flag

by Emily Kibler | July 31, 2025

Note: A common misconception is that the Disability Pride flag is directly associated with the LGBTQIA+ Pride movement. While there is overlap between these two movements and they have built off of each other, Disability Pride is distinct from LGBTQIA+ Pride.

For those who have been attending Disability Pride Month events throughout the month of July, you might have seen a flag out and about. The flag contains a background of dark gray with five diagonal colored stripes spanning across it. This is the Disability Pride Flag. Continue reading to learn about its history and why it is important.
History
The first Disability Pride flag looked a little different than the one we use today, but its meaning was the same. Created by Ann Magill in 2019, this version of the flag used higher contrast colors and incorporated a zig-zag pattern into the design (see below).
Old disability pride flag. A black background with fived colored zig-zap stripes cutting across diagonally. The colors from left to right are blue, yellow, white, red, and green.
This was the first step toward creating a symbol that could unite the entire disability community under a common symbol. Magill incorporated the zig-zag pattern to represent how people with disabilities often have to maneuver around barriers in society.

While this flag was widely received with praise due to the nature of finally having a banner of unity, there were several limitations identified. The zig-zag pattern created a strobe effect on screens, which posed a risk for people with visually triggered disabilities such as epilepsy and migraines. In addition, some Autistic individuals raised criticisms with the bright colors, explaining that they were overstimulating. The other main problem identified was that the red and green stripes, when placed side by side, blended together for people with red-green colorblindness.
The Redesign
In 2021, a new design was collaboratively created to address these concerns. The colors were muted and rearranged and the zig-zag pattern was replaced with straight diagonal lines cutting across the flag diagonally. Rather than representing the process of maneuvering around barriers, the diagonal lines symbolize cutting through those barriers.
Current Disability Pride flag. A dark gray background with five color bars cutting from the top left corner to the bottom right corner. The colors from left to right are red, yellow, white, blue, and green.
The new flag design has been widely accepted by the disability community and is growing in popularity in recent years. Avid readers of this newsletter have likely seen the flag used several times, whether they realized it or not.

What the Colors Represent

Each color used on the flag symbolizes different aspects of the disability community:
  • Red: Physical Disabilities
  • Gold: Neurodiversity
  • White: Invisible Disabilities and Undiagnosed Disabilities
  • Blue: Emotional and Psychiatric Disabilities
  • Green: Sensory Disabilities
The dark gray color used in the background represents mourning and rage for victims of ableism, violence, suicide, negligence, eugenics, and other forms of systemic harm experienced by people with disabilities.
As we go forward beyond Disability Pride Month, keep an eye out for the flag and wave it proudly.
About the Author
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Headshot of a young white woman with medium length wavy brown hair. She is wearing glasses, a necklace, and a rust colored shirt with small flowers.
Emily Kibler
Communications & Compliance Director
Alliance of Disability Advocates
Published Thursday, July 31, 2025

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