Disability Pride

W.A.G.S. 4 Kids embraces the concept of Disability Pride wholeheartedly. Disability Pride is defined “as accepting and honoring each person’s uniqueness and seeing it as a natural and beautiful part of human diversity.” Disability Pride is an integral part of movement building and a direct challenge of systemic ableism and stigmatizing definitions of disability.

So What Does Disability Pride Mean?

Since disability pride is a fairly new concept, it is important for people with disabilities to be proudly visible in the community. The disability pride movement wants to present people with disabilities as people living their lives in plain view proud of their identity as being disabled. Using bold images and strong words, disability pride awareness dates, parades, and festivals both uplift and challenge. Pride comes from celebrating our heritage, disability culture, the unique experiences that we have as people with disabilities, and the contributions that we can give to society.

Many times people think about a disability as a medical diagnosis. “My disability is a spinal cord injury” or “my disability is depression” or “my disability is a brain injury.” Disability is more than just the physical and/or mental effects on the body, disability is more than the pills that you take, or the doctor that you go to. It’s actually a part of who you are. However, a disability is not the only identity you have, of course you have others such as being male or female, black or white, short or tall, each one is important. All identities are important and are valued at W.A.G.S. 4 Kids.

Challenging Negative Attitudes About Disabled People

Disabled people are the largest and most diverse minority within the population representing all ages, races, ethnicities, religions and socio-economic backgrounds. Yet disabled people are often not thought of as equals or valued members of society. At W.A.G.S. 4 Kids, every day we work to challenge negative attitudes and preconceptions of what it means to be disabled in our city, county, state, country and world community.

At W.A.G.S. 4 Kids, we encourage people who access our programs and services to be proud of who they are and embrace their disability. “As long as the mind is enslaved, the body can never be free.” – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. As long as disabled people remain ashamed of who they are, they will never realize the true equality and freedom they can achieve. We must first take pride in ourselves as a community. We must no longer be ashamed of being disabled.

The Disability Pride Flag

The new (2021) Disability Pride Flag is an evolution of the Lightning Bolt Disability Pride Flag, which is safer for people with visually-triggered disabilities. The color brightness changes also make the flag more accessible to those with color blindness. The new Disability Pride Flag is a charcoal grey flag bisected diagonally from the top left corner to the lower right corner by five parallel stripes in red, pale gold, pale grey, light blue, and green. The Disability Pride Flag comprises several different elements, each symbolizing various aspects of the disability experience:

• All six "standard" flag colors: Disability spans borders between states and nations.
• The diagonal bands signify: "Cutting across" the walls and barriers that separate the disabled from society.
• Black Field: Mourning for ableist violence and abuse victims.
• Red Stripe: Physical Disabilities.
• Gold Stripe: Neurodivergence.
• White Stripe: Invisible and undiagnosed disabilities.
• Blue Stripe: Psychiatric disabilities.
• Green Stripe: Sensory disabilities.

Disability Pride Week

Disability Pride Week is an annual event to promote visibility, and mainstream awareness of the positive pride felt by people with disabilities within their community. It marks a break from traditional concepts of disabilities as shameful conditions, which were often hidden from public spaces and mainstream awareness.

The first Disability Pride Day was held in Boston, MA, in 1990. Disability Pride Week events often combine the celebration of "disability culture" with educational events, such as seminars on legal rights for people with disabilities, accessibility awareness, and other similar topics.

Disability Pride Parades

Disability Pride Parades are held to celebrate people with disabilities. Disability Pride Parades seek to change the way people think about and define disability, end the stigma of disability, and promote the belief that disability is a natural and beautiful part of human diversity in which people living with disabilities can take pride.

The United States first Disability Pride Parade was held in Chicago in 2004.

Today, Disability Pride Parades have been held in several places across the United States, including Silicon Valley/Santa Clara County, Chicago, Philadelphia, Colorado Springs, Houston, Atlanta, Detroit, New Jersey, and Columbus, as well as around the world in locations such as South Korea, Norway, and the U.K.

Disability Culture

Today, people with disabilities are emerging as artists, writers, and performers with something new to say about the experience of being disabled. The culture and media these artist/activists are producing has come to be collectively called Disability Culture.

Disability culture is about visibility and self-value. As with many groups in society, recognition by others only comes with self-awareness within the group of the group's differences and strengths. Disability culture offers ways for people with different disabilities to pursue their own and shared goals.

"There is a tremendous need to create a counter-culture that teaches new values and beliefs and acknowledges the dignity and worth of all human beings. Disability pride is a direct response to this need." - Sarah Triano, National Disabled Students Union.

Adapted from Disabled World Towards Tomorrow: www.disabled-world.com/definitions/disability-pride.phpd