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Disability Pride Month is observed in July each year to celebrate the diversity of people with disability and raise awareness of their unique experiences and identities.
It was first initiated in America to mark the passing of Americans with Disability Act in 1990. Today, this event is observed globally to celebrate disability as part of human diversity and reject stigma and exclusion.
Disability Pride Month at Curtin
This July, the Disability Pride Flag will be flown at the Forum to signal Curtin’s support for people with disability.
Every member of our community matters. We strive to foster a welcoming, safe, inclusive, respectful and accessible environment and culture which recognise our diversity and honour the voices, perspectives and lived experience of people with disability.
There will be a variety of community engagement and outreach activities from June to August including discussions on equity and advocacy, online and in-person arts-based workshops, a creative showcase, micro-volunteering and stories of inclusion featuring members of the Curtin community who live with disability.
Information on activities will be shared through Staff News and student communication channels.
Image: Three Curtin employees chatting and walking in front of Italian artist Tellas’ three-storey mural at Building 208.
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About the Disability Pride Flag
The Disability Pride flag was co-designed by Ann Magill, an American writer and activist with cerebral palsy, and other people with disability. Each colour stripe has a meaning:
- Green for sensory disabilities
- Blue for psychological disabilities and mental health
- White for invisible and undiagnosed disabilities
- Yellow for cognitive and intellectual disabilities
- Red for physical disabilities
The colours are displayed in a diagonal band across the flag, which represents cutting through the barriers faced by people with disability. The black background recognises the people with disability who have lost their lives as a result of ableist violence or negligence.
Image: Disability Pride Flag
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How you can support accessibility and inclusion at Curtin
Here are some ways you can help foster a more inclusive workplace:
- Understand Curtin’s commitment to creating an accessible and inclusive environment for all, and familiarise yourself with the University’s Disability Access and Inclusion Plan.
- Learn about the Abilities Collective @ Curtin , an employee network supporting employees with disabilities.
- Reflect on your use of inclusive and enabling language by reading Curtin’s Inclusive Language Guide.
Learn more about the support services for wellbeing at Curtin:
- Employees can contact the Employee Wellbeing team to learn more about accessing support and resources to help improve their wellbeing and access to the workplace.
- Employees can access counselling services from PeopleSense, Curtin’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
- If you are concerned about a student, you can refer them to Curtin’s disability and accessibility support services for support.
Image: Curtin employee with seeing eye dog at Curtin Central Bus Exchange.
Support the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program
Curtin University is now a member of the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower, a globally recognised symbol that supports people living with non-visible disabilities.
Get trained to become a Sunflower Supporter
Sunflower Supporters are Curtin employees who are trained to understand and support people with non-visible disabilities.
You can become a Sunflower Supporter by completing the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower and Disability Awareness training. Please refer to the training playlist in iPerform.
If you see someone wearing the green Sunflower lanyard, which signals they have a hidden disability, you can support them by being patient, kind and understanding and offering help if it’s needed. Avoid making assumptions about their needs or asking them about their disability.
Using a Sunflower lanyard
If you have a non-visible disability, you can choose to wear a green Sunflower lanyard on campus. It’s a simple, discreet way to let others know you may need a bit more time, space or patience, without having to explain.
You can collect a free lanyard or pin from the Diversity Inclusion and Belonging team by emailing staffdiversity@curtin.edu.au.
Image: Poster showing the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower logo with sunflowers and the tagline “Making the Invisible Visible”.
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Additional resources and training
Disability awareness, accessibility and inclusion
Fostering a more inclusive and accessible community is a shared responsibility. Enhance your disability awareness and knowledge through further training, including free self-paced courses available via iPerform, CurtinX and other providers.
Learn the story behind the creation of new iPerform modules on disability at Curtin from this Zine.
