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capri0mniAs I'm growing older, the issue of Disability Rights has been of deepening importance to me.
Ever since I attended the local "celebration" of the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 2010, only to find disappointment that the celebration was confined to the basement and grounds of the regional Independent Living Center, instead of out in the public, I've wanted a Disability Pride Flag.
After the massacre at the Tsukui Yamayuri En care home in Sagamihara, Japan, six years later, when nineteen disabled inmates were murdered and twenty-six injured (because they were disabled, by the killer's own confession), I was driven to design an actual flag, instead of just wishing we had one.
This is the design I've come up with, and this morning (4 June, 2019) I have officially waived all copyright claims to this flag, and registered it under International Public Domain (right click to copy or save -- same with the how-to images).
Here's the version for more comfortable use on backlit screens:
Update! Important! (13 October, 2021)
Early in July, 2021 it came to my attention that, even with desaturated colors, The zigzag design can, when viewed online (especially while scrolling), create a strobe effect, and pose a risk for people with epilepsy, and migraine sufferers.
Therefore, several people in the Disability community on Tumblr, collaborated and came to a consensus on a new design, shown below:
[Image description: a “Straight Diagonal” version of the Disability Pride Flag: A charcoal grey flag with a diagonal band from the top left to bottom right corner, made up of five parallel stripes in red, gold, pale grey, blue, and green Description ends]
Along with simplifying the central motif to straight lines, the colors have been rearranged so that the warm colors (red and gold) and cool colors (blue and green) are grouped together. And the brightness of the colors have also been edited so that they radiate more evenly from brightest at the center toward darker in the outside stripes.
Although the earlier version of the flag, with the zigzag motif, still exists, and is still in the public domain (and is therefore free for anyone to use and/or adapt), I believe it is better for communication and awareness that we focus on one version of the flag. I have therefore removed the earlier zigzag design from my image gallery.
Thank you for understanding.
Ever since I attended the local "celebration" of the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 2010, only to find disappointment that the celebration was confined to the basement and grounds of the regional Independent Living Center, instead of out in the public, I've wanted a Disability Pride Flag.
After the massacre at the Tsukui Yamayuri En care home in Sagamihara, Japan, six years later, when nineteen disabled inmates were murdered and twenty-six injured (because they were disabled, by the killer's own confession), I was driven to design an actual flag, instead of just wishing we had one.
This is the design I've come up with, and this morning (4 June, 2019) I have officially waived all copyright claims to this flag, and registered it under International Public Domain (right click to copy or save -- same with the how-to images).
Here's the version for more comfortable use on backlit screens:
Update! Important! (13 October, 2021)
Early in July, 2021 it came to my attention that, even with desaturated colors, The zigzag design can, when viewed online (especially while scrolling), create a strobe effect, and pose a risk for people with epilepsy, and migraine sufferers.
Therefore, several people in the Disability community on Tumblr, collaborated and came to a consensus on a new design, shown below:
[Image description: a “Straight Diagonal” version of the Disability Pride Flag: A charcoal grey flag with a diagonal band from the top left to bottom right corner, made up of five parallel stripes in red, gold, pale grey, blue, and green Description ends]
Visually Safe Disability Pride Flag by Ann Magill is marked with CC0 1.0
Along with simplifying the central motif to straight lines, the colors have been rearranged so that the warm colors (red and gold) and cool colors (blue and green) are grouped together. And the brightness of the colors have also been edited so that they radiate more evenly from brightest at the center toward darker in the outside stripes.
Although the earlier version of the flag, with the zigzag motif, still exists, and is still in the public domain (and is therefore free for anyone to use and/or adapt), I believe it is better for communication and awareness that we focus on one version of the flag. I have therefore removed the earlier zigzag design from my image gallery.
Thank you for understanding.
no subject
Date: 2019-06-04 05:46 pm (UTC)My favorite images otherwise for Pride Month has been the Pride Dragons.
no subject
Date: 2019-06-04 05:58 pm (UTC)A+++++
Date: 2019-06-04 09:41 pm (UTC)bottom of the fly by A five parallel zigzag
Re: A+++++
Date: 2019-06-04 09:44 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-06-05 05:05 am (UTC)I feel like the version with the purple rounds out the spectrum better, but the white stripe is clearer and more... flagly.
no subject
Date: 2019-06-05 11:03 am (UTC)And second: that's probably because White is one of the Internationally Recognized Standard for flag colors, of which there are six. And this flag (And the Olympic Flag) uses all of them.
And, being a standard flag color, it's easier to find in paint, paper, fabric, etc. for anyone wanting to make the flag, no matter where they are. Which was the core idea behind everything I chose in this flag design.
And also (if I may say so, myself) White -- especially placed at the center of all the other colors -- is a clearer symbolic representation of "Invisible Disability" than purple, which is the brightest of all.
no subject
Date: 2019-06-19 10:41 am (UTC)If I get the spoons together to make a fabric version, I'll put the instructions up.
no subject
Date: 2019-06-19 10:54 am (UTC)I keep forgetting to post them here, but I've also made an illustrated set of instructions in MS Paint. I'll edit the post right after coffee.
:-)
Tip jar?
Date: 2021-06-05 02:47 pm (UTC)I would love to send you a monetary tribute for this great contribution, but I couldn't find any transfer services (Venmo, PayPal, etc.) listed for in a quick search.
Re: Tip jar?
Date: 2021-06-08 12:13 pm (UTC)I'm sorry it's taken me so long to get back you. (And I'm really glad you like the flag -- I think it's bad-ass, too, frankly).
I do have a PayPal, but I'd actually prefer not receive any monetary tips, for this work (even if it doesn't legally muddy the waters in regards to it being in the public domain, it does in my own head -- Brain!stuff is weird like that).
The best way you can "pay" for this flag is actually to (proverbially) fly it. If you have a Disability-themed blog or newsletter, put some element of the design in the header or sidebar, and/or make art with it. If going to a pride event or protest, put it on your banner or picket sign, etc..
no subject
Date: 2021-07-17 12:15 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-07-18 04:56 pm (UTC)Also: watch this space. This flag has been relatively obscure until the last view weeks, when it suddenly got noticed on Reddit, and Tumblr (and maybe other places). With the larger audience, I discovered that, even with desaturated colors, this flag pattern can cause severe reactions in people with epilepsy and chronic migraine. So the flag (now with many people contributing) is being redesigned, at least, for online use (The problem seems to be that the zigzag can create a strobe effect when people scroll past it on backlit screens).
I think we're settling on "A straight diagonal band across the field (from corner to corner), without the black lines in between."
But I want to be more sure about the consensus before I push forward and place that in the Public Domain.
Updated Flag?
Date: 2021-07-23 01:11 pm (UTC)I would love to help promote the updated version of the flag through our library's social media platforms when it is finalized. If you have a mailing list for notifications, would you please add me to the list?
cynthia.french@wcls.org
Thank you!
Re: Updated Flag?
Date: 2021-07-23 01:55 pm (UTC)(I never thought awareness of this flag would explode so quickly within the last few weeks, after being almost totally unknown for the last two years).
Thoughts on the black background
Date: 2021-07-23 01:06 pm (UTC)Re: Thoughts on the black background
Date: 2021-07-23 01:46 pm (UTC)But, you don't need to ask my permission to make any alterations to the design. Since this flag is in the Public Domain, that means it already belongs to you -- It belongs to Everybody. Period.
However, I will warn you: now that this zigzag design has been seen by more people this year than ever before, people have told me that the zigzag design has caused them to have seizures, and debilitating migraines when viewed online, and that the narrow dark lines between the colored stripes make worse. And this is why I'm working on a second design of a simple diagonal band, with no black in between for online use.
So far, the original design seems fine for physical media such as the craft work you're promoting, especially if it's smaller sized. But I just thought I'd give you that warning, in case you want to post images of the work your clients are creating.
And thanks again for your interest!
Re: Thoughts on the black background
Date: 2021-07-23 02:11 pm (UTC)HI, thanks so much for your swift reply, it's really kind of you! Great to hear from you, and thanks v much for all the useful information.
Just a brief reply for not (apologies) as about to have a meeting with our artisans in Ecuador, via the wonders of zoom.
If you have 5 minutes, here's a video of them and how our organisation works with them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=957K--SgXw4&t=13s
Very best wishes!
Susie :)
Susie Hart MBE Director *Artizan International ( the new name for Craft Aid International) * *www.artizaninternational.org http://www.craftaidinternational.org * *01423 561556 / 07588 724142 *
Flag Image Links don’t work
Date: 2021-10-13 05:36 pm (UTC)Thank you for updating the design to be more accessible. We love it. The links for the low contrast flag colours don’t work. Could you kindly update the link or file attached whenever you can. Thanks so much.
Re: Flag Image Links don’t work
Date: 2021-10-13 07:39 pm (UTC)Thank you for bringing this to my attention.
Neurodivergence too?
Date: 2022-01-27 12:13 pm (UTC)I am wondering if this flag includes neurodivergence? I would like to share the flag for myself and others as a symbol show solidarity with disabled and neurodivegent children in schools with special educational needs who are currently being discriminated against. The threat of prosecution and persecution is rising but there are many hopeful voices rising too and finding new ways. I have seen a version with purple in it but not sure if this is yours? My son and I are both autistic.
Many thanks
Susan
Re: Neurodivergence too?
Date: 2022-02-22 12:35 am (UTC)Link for Updated Flag
Date: 2022-06-28 02:38 pm (UTC)I love the new flag design! I work for a disability support organization and we'd love to share the image of the updated flag but I cannot seem to get the link provided to work. Is there another place we can source this image? Thank you so much for this important work and for sharing it with everyone so freely.
Re: Link for Updated Flag
Date: 2022-07-15 05:57 pm (UTC)So try it now.
Re: Link for Updated Flag
Date: 2022-07-20 04:39 pm (UTC)Re: Link for Updated Flag
Date: 2022-07-21 10:38 pm (UTC)(And thank you!!)
Wikipedia still shows the old flag
Date: 2022-07-15 08:23 pm (UTC)Just wanted to mention that while I see the new flag appears in Wikipedia under this link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disability_Pride_Month#/media/File:Visually_Safe_Disability_Pride_Flag.png (Created July 28, 2021)
The old flag still appears in Wikipedia under this link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Disability_Pride_Flag_Ann_Magill_copyrights_waived.svg
and under "File History" it says "Current 09:54, 4 July 2021" thus giving the impression that the flag is still current.
May I suggest adding a comment or link to the outdated link that points people to the new one?
Thanks again.
Re: Wikipedia still shows the old flag
Date: 2022-07-21 10:27 pm (UTC)It's very frustrating.