July is Disability Pride Month

All six colors of the Disability Pride Flag are muted. Red, yellow, white, blue, and green stripes on a black background.

Disability Pride Month is a month-long celebration that honors the history, achievements, and experiences of people with disabilities.

It is estimated that people with disabilities comprise approximately 15% of the world’s population, representing all ages, races, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, religions, and socio-economic backgrounds.

Disability Pride Month is a response against ableism* and social stigma that aims to promote visibility and awareness of the disability community. Disability Pride has been described as “accepting and honoring each person’s uniqueness and seeing it as a natural and beautiful part of human diversity.”

History of Disability Pride Month

On March 12, 1990, more than 1,000 people marched from the White House to the U.S. Capitol, demanding that Congress pass the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Once they arrived at the Capitol, approximately 60 activists demonstrated the inaccessibility of public spaces by either getting out of their wheelchairs or putting aside their mobility aids to crawl up the 83 stone steps of the Capitol. This act later became known as the “Capitol Crawl”, one of the events leading to the passage of the ADA. President George H.W. Bush signed the ADA into law on July 26, 1990.

On October 6, 1990, Boston held the first Disability Pride Day. The first official celebration of Disability Pride Month occurred in July 2015, which also marked the 25th anniversary of the ADA. Since then, cities across the nation have celebrated Disability Pride Month with parades and other festivities.

Disability advocates and activists strive to create an inclusive and accessible society that enables individuals with disabilities to live fulfilling lives and participate in their communities. Activities during Disability Pride Month are aimed at inspiring citizens to celebrate the contributions of people with disabilities, promote inclusivity, and foster greater respect and understanding.

HFC humanities instructor Dr. Adam Hazlett is a staunch advocate for people with disabilities. Hazlett, who was diagnosed with autism in 2020, has recently been elected to the Board of Directors for the Self-Advocates of Michigan (SAM), which is a division of the[Michigan Developmental Disabilities Council.

“The ADA marked a pivotal moment in the fight for disability rights, symbolizing a profound shift toward equality and inclusion," said Hazlett. “It is a month to reflect on the strides made, honor the activists who paved the way, and continue the journey toward a more accessible and just society.”

Breaking Barriers: Disability Pride Month Community Celebration in Lansing

Michigan will celebrate Disability Pride month with Breaking Barriers: Disability Pride Month Community Celebration on July 26 in Lansing.

The Breaking Barriers art exhibit highlights the talent of artists with developmental disabilities while breaking down stigmas that can be barriers to these artists. This event will allow you to gain a deeper understanding of the intersection between disability and art as a powerful form of self-expression and self-advocacy.

Hazlett will give a presentation at this event.

“I’ll be speaking about my experiences as a late diagnosed autistic Gen-Xer, my trials and triumphs, and the importance of self-advocacy – both in our state and my personal journey. People will come together to share stories,” he said.

Activities will include:

  • Meet-and-greet with artists from the Breaking Barriers art exhibit.
  • Speeches from members of the disability community.
  • Disability Pride Month Poetry Slam.
  • Informational booths from statewide disability advocacy organizations.

Please register in advance if you plan to attend this event.

This event is free and open to the public. For questions or more information, contact Renee Hall at HallR24@michigan.gov.

Disability Pride Flag

In 2019, Ann Magill – a writer with cerebral palsy – created the original Disability Pride Flag. She had attended an event for the 20th anniversary of the ADA and expressed her disappointment that it was confined to the basement and grounds of an independent living center instead of out in public. This inspired her to create a flag.

Originally, the flag featured brightly colored zigzagging stripes with a black background. The zigzagging stripes represented how people with disabilities have to maneuver around the barriers they face. Unfortunately, this design could trigger symptoms in people with visual disabilities.

Magill refined the flag’s look in 2021. In the new version, the stripes are straight lines reordered to accommodate people with red-green colorblindness. The colors have been muted to be visually safe and inclusive. Magill has waived her copyright to the design, which is in the public domain.

The colored stripes are placed diagonally across the flag to show how people with disabilities have to cut across barriers in society. All six “standard” flag colors represent how disabilities span the borders between states and nations.

  • Black background: This color represents mourning for victims of ableist violence and abuse.
  • Red stripe: This color represents people with physical abilities.
  • Gold stripe: This color represents neurodivergence, referring to a person whose brain processes information in a way that is not typical of most people.
  • White stripe: This color represents people with invisible and undiagnosed disabilities.
  • Blue stripe: This color represents people with psychiatric disabilities.
  • Green stripe: This color represents people with sensory disabilities.

“Disability Pride Month is a time for us to recognize and honor the diverse experiences and contributions of the disabled community,” said Hazlett. “It is a month dedicated to amplifying voices, advocating for inclusion, and celebrating the resilience and achievements that define the spirit of disability pride.”

HFC Internal Resources

There are several resources available at HFC to help those who are members of the disability community.

Assisted Learning Services provides accessible education to students with disabilities. Contact ALS at 313-845-9617 or als@hfcc.edu.

Campus Safety provides various assistance, safety, and crime prevention services to the community. Call Campus Safety at 9911 from a campus phone or 313-845-9630 from an outside phone. Campus Safety can also be reached through your HFC Reach Out App and by email at campussafety@hfcc.edu.

Counseling Center: Counselors can help you improve your ability to make healthy decisions, provide a helpful viewpoint, and offer coping mechanisms. Contact Dr. Brenda Hildreth at 313-845-9611 or bjhildreth@hfcc.edu.

Office of Student Conduct and Title IX: The Title IX Office supports our community in creating and sustaining an environment that is free from all forms of sexual misconduct and discrimination. Contact:

  • HFC Title IX Coordinator Munira Kassim at 313-845-6301 or mmkassim@hfcc.edu
  • HFC Employee Deputy Title IX Coordinator Mark Tade at 313-845-9851 or metade@hfcc.edu.

If you need assistance you do not see here, please reach out to Assisted Learning Services, and they will be able to direct you.


* "Ableism" is defined as bias or discrimination in favor of people who do not experience disabilities.

Related Content: President George H.W. Bush signs the Americans with Disabilities Act into law on July 26, 1990