What Pride Really Means: Celebrating Disability Pride Month

July is Disability Pride Month.

And like most things that matter—it’s not about perfection.

It’s about presence.

It’s about honoring the parts of ourselves we were once told to hide.

The pieces we tried to downplay. The differences we felt we had to overcome.

Disability pride isn’t about pretending we’ve got it all figured out.

It’s about showing up as we are—and letting that be enough.

The Flag That Grew With Us

You’ve probably seen the Disability Pride flag—bold, powerful, unmistakable.

What you may not know is: it changed.

The original version, designed by Ann Magill, featured a lightning bolt slicing through five vibrant colors. It represented the jagged, unpredictable journey of living in a world that wasn’t built for us.

But in 2021, something beautiful happened.

The flag evolved.

To make the design more accessible—especially for those with sensory processing differences or visual sensitivities—Ann worked with the community to create a new version. A more inclusive version. One that reflects not just pride, but progress.

Here’s what it looks like now:

  • A Black Background—honoring those we’ve lost to ableism, violence, and neglect. It’s also a symbol of rebellion and strength.

  • Five Straight, Diagonal Stripes—each one representing a different aspect of disability:

    • Red for physical disabilities

    • Gold for neurodivergence

    • White for invisible and undiagnosed disabilities

    • Blue for psychiatric disabilities

    • Green for sensory disabilities

This flag isn’t just a symbol.

It’s a statement.

We are not one story—we are many. And every one of them belongs.

This Month—and Every Month

I used to think pride meant looking strong. Polished. Unbreakable.

Now I know better.

Pride is being seen.

Not in spite of what makes us different—but because of it.

This month, I’m celebrating the journey.

The growth.

The people who came before me and the ones still fighting beside me.

If you live with a disability, I hope you know this:

You don’t have to earn your worth.

You don’t have to apologize for existing.

You’re not here to inspire someone else’s comfort.

You’re here to live. To lead. To be proud.

Exactly as you are.

This month, let’s not just raise a flag.

Let’s raise each other.


Michael Kutcher