Making History: Victoria Raises the Disability Pride Flag for the First Time
4 August 2025
Author: PWDA member Shannon Meilak
Last month, I was honoured to be part of a historic moment in Victoria, speaking at the state’s first-ever Disability Pride flag raising. The event, organised by Melbourne artist and activist Larissa McFarlane, in collaboration with DRC Advocacy, Accessible Victorian Greens, and Brimbank City Council, was well attended by fellow advocates, disability organisations, and members of Council — including the Mayor and Councillors.
About Disability Pride
You may have heard a lot about disability pride last month; however, you may be less familiar with the Disability Pride flag and what it represents. The flag was originally designed in 2019, by disability activist Ann Magill.
The charcoal grey background represents mourning for victims of ableist violence and abuse, as well as anger and protest against the mistreatment of disabled people. The diagonal band symbolises the barriers that disabled people face and the community’s strength in overcoming them. The red stripe represents physical disabilities, gold represents neurodivergence, white is invisible and undiagnosed disabilities, blue is emotional and psychiatric disabilities, and the green stripe represents sensory disabilities.
Whilst some may view this simply as tokenism, it’s important to understand why the disability community want and need to raise a flag. The flag raising is about being visible. Many disabled people still feel unseen or unheard. Most of the changes we need have not been forthcoming. Raising this flag serves as a reminder that we are here and we matter. It’s about creating awareness and providing disabled people a platform to be heard.
Inclusion and diversity will never be achieved, if society continues to tell us disabled folk what we have, rather than listening to what we need. For me, disability pride is not only about celebrating our community, but is a commitment of non-disabled people to advocating for change. It’s an ongoing commitment to engage with us and to adapt accordingly.
Recently, I was subjected to hate speech, mocking, and blatant misinformation about disability pride within my own community. It was a stark reminder that ableism is deeply rooted in our society, and that it will persist unless we actively challenge it. The ignorance and lack of respect shown by some non-disabled people is exactly why raising the Disability Pride flag was so important, and why we must continue to raise it, loudly and proudly.
Disability Pride and Community
Not long ago, LGBTQIA+ communities came together to protest for inclusion and acceptance within the broader community. What ensued was the decriminalisation of homosexuality and the legalisation of same-sex marriage; changes fuelled by early pride parades and rainbow flag raisings. If meaningful changes like these can be made for the Queer community, then why not also for the disability community?
What our community needs is for non-disabled people to accommodate and include us, so we can truly engage with society. These changes must be implemented with an intent to address the shortfalls of society, not to fix us! If we are to truly be inclusive of diversity in all its forms, then it’s society that needs to be fixed.
Of course, we shouldn’t have to fight for our inclusion, but the struggle for accessibility cannot be won unless we continue to show up and speak out. So, when Disability Pride Month returns next July, I encourage you to engage with your community and take part in any events that celebrate disability pride. If there aren’t any events in your area, ask your local Council to step up. Write to your representatives and urge them to advocate for our inclusion. Use your voice in whatever way is meaningful to you, and make sure it’s heard. Together, this is a fight we can win, and ensure a better future for all disabled people.
About the author:
Shannon is a disabled and neurodivergent creative with a strong focus on advocacy, accessibility, and authentic storytelling. Living with multiple disabilities has shaped her perspective and fuels her commitment to challenging ableism and creating inclusive spaces. Through her work in television, radio, writing, and community engagement, Shannon uses her lived experience to amplify voices that are too often excluded, driving meaningful change and fostering a culture of belonging.
Find out more at Shannon’s Linktree.
PWDA members are the heart and soul of our organisation. We encourage all people with disability, residing in Australia to join our community of thousands of people with disability across Australia.
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What a powerful moment this must’ve been! Watching the Disability Pride flag rise in Victoria for the first time feels like a true declaration: “We are here. We matter.” The flag’s bold stripes speak volumes not just hope, but strength, joy, and visibility. This isn’t tokenism, it’s a call for inclusion, respect, and real change. When society learns to listen and adapt instead of trying to “fix” us, true progress takes flight. Let’s keep raising that flag loudly and proudly.