In July of 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act—important legislation aimed at protecting people with disabilities from discrimination. In 2015, Disability Pride Month was officially celebrated, becoming a time to recognize that disabilities are a part of who we are and our diversity.

So, what exactly is a disability? The Centers for Disease Control defines disability as “any condition of the body or mind that makes it more difficult for the person with the condition to do certain activities and interact with the world around them.” According to the World Health Organization, 1 billion people worldwide — that’s 1 in 8 people — live with disabilities, making people with disabilities the world’s largest minority.

At L&P, we believe that disabilities are a part of the diverse human experience, and everyone should feel empowered to be their full selves. We celebrate our employees for who they are and what they bring to L&P.

If you’d like to learn more about disability pride and the experiences within the disability community, check out the resources and information in the sections below.

The Disability Pride Flag

Created by Ann Magill in 2021, the disability pride flag has five stripes — red, yellow, white, blue, and green — on a faded black background. Each color represents a facet of the disability community’s experiences:

• Sensory disabilities are represented by the color green.
• Psychiatric disabilities are represented by the color blue.
• White represents undiagnosed and invisible disabilities.
• Gold stands for neurodiversity.
• Physical disabilities are represented by the color red.
• Grief and anger over society’s negative attitudes and actions towards the disability community are represented by the black background.

Resources

Interested in learning more about the voices and experiences within the disability community? check out these resources:

• LinkedIn Top Voices in Disability Advocacy: If you’re on LinkedIn, check out these 12 thought leaders who advocate for the disability community.
• Podcasts on Disability: Are you a podcast fan? Listen to interviews, discussions, perspectives, and stories on disability.
• Books for Disability Pride Month: Like to read? Check out the stories in these books for Disability Pride Month.

References

Ballard, Jamie. “Everything to Know About the Disability Pride Flag and Disability Pride Month.” Woman’s Day, 23 May 2023, www.womansday.com/life/a43964487/disability-pride-flag. Accessed 5 June 2023.

“Disability and Health Overview.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 15 Sept. 2020, www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/disabilityandhealth/disability.html. Accessed 5 June 2023.

“Factsheet on Persons With Disabilities.” United Nations, www.un.org/development/desa/disabilities/resources/factsheet-on-persons-with-disabilities.html. Accessed 5 June 2023.

Miranda, Gabriela. “A chance to ‘amplify one another’: What Is Disability Pride Month?” USA TODAY, 4 July 2021, www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/07/02/how-disability-pride-month-started-and-what-means/7840560002. Accessed 5 June 2023.