The Colors of Disability Pride
Disability Pride Month is observed each July and commemorates the signing of the landmark civil rights law, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which turns 35 this year! It is a time to honor the rich and diverse history, experiences, and achievements of people with disabilities here in Illinois and across the country. One way to show your pride is to fly or display the Disability Pride flag!
How was the Disability Pride Flag created? nn Magill, a writer with cerebral palsy, designed the flag in 2019, then recreated it in 2021. She wanted the flag to represent the dynamic community of all people with disabilities, with each color symbolizing a part of the disability experience:
- A faded charcoal background represents the struggles faced by people with disabilities.
- Red stripe represents people with physical disabilities
- Gold stripe represents neurodiversity and people with developmental and/or intellectual disabilities.
- White stripe represents invisible disabilities and disabilities that haven’t yet been diagnosed.
- Blue stripe represents emotional and psychiatric disabilities, including mental illness, anxiety, and depression.
- The green stripe represents sensory disabilities, such as deafness, blindness, and other sensory impairments.
Together, the colored diagonal stripes unite and cut like a light through the muted background to symbolize cutting through the challenges and isolation that some people with disabilities may feel.
IL ABLE will join the community to celebrate Disability Pride Month at the Chicago Disability Pride Parade on July 26. Stop by our table to say hello and learn how IL ABLE can be an important resource that empowers people with disabilities to build strong financial futures.
Explore IL ABLE Resources
Learn what an IL ABLE disability savings Account is, who is eligible, how to open an Account, and how it can help you save for qualified disability-related expenses while protecting important benefits.
- Learn About ABLE Accounts
- Read the ABLE Plan Disclosure Booklet
- Compare ABLE Investment Options
- Open an ABLE Account
- Request an IL ABLE Presentation at a club or nonprofit by emailing Rosemary Laudani at rlaudani@illinoistreasurer.gov.
For assistance, call 888-609-8683 Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm CT, or email il.clientservice@savewithable.com. Support is available in multiple languages and for callers who are deaf or hard of hearing.