Disability Pride Month – July in Canada

Celebrating Identity, Visibility, and Inclusion

July is recognized globally—and increasingly across Canada—as Disability Pride Month, a time to celebrate the strength, diversity, and achievements of people with disabilities.

While Disability Pride Month originated in the U.S. in 1990 following the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Canadian communities have embraced this month as a grassroots movement to elevate disability culture, advocate for equity, and foster pride in disability identity.

What Is Disability Pride?
Disability Pride is about:
Recognizing disability as an identity—not something to be ashamed of, but a natural part of human diversity..

Challenging ableism and the idea that people with disabilities need to be “fixed”. Celebrating community strength, resilience, and interdependence.

The Disability Pride flag, redesigned in 2021, uses bold colours on a black background to represent the broad spectrum of disabilities, as well as mourning lives lost due to ableism. Here’s what each element symbolizes:
Black Background: Represents mourning and rage for victims of ableism and the ongoing struggle for justice
Diagonal Stripe (from top left to bottom right): A “cutting across” of barriers and the creativity people with disabilities use to navigate the world.
Five Colours in the Stripe: Green: Sensory disabilities (e.g., autism, ADHD, sensory processing disorders); Blue: Mental health disabilities; Brown: Physical disabilities; Yellow: Neurodivergence and cognitive/intellectual disabilities; Red: Invisible and chronic illnesses, including chronic pain and fatigue disorders. This inclusive design recognizes the wide spectrum of disabilities and affirms that pride exists across all experiences.

What It Means in Canada
Though there’s no formal federal recognition (yet), Canadians celebrate Disability Pride Month through:
Community events, awareness campaigns, and storytelling
Art, media, and social media takeovers by people with lived experience
Policy advocacy for accessibility, health equity, housing, and employment inclusion

VAD Stands with Disability Pride
At VAD, we believe that disability is not a weakness—it is power, knowledge, and culture. This July, we invite our members, allies, and supporters to:
Share your story using #DisabilityPride
Attend inclusive events or host your own
Challenge ableist language and assumptions in everyday life
Encourage youth and elders with disabilities to explore pride in identity
Together, we HOLD the power to change narratives and celebrate disability with pride.

To share your story or artwork for Disability Pride Month, email us at vad@vadsociety.ca