Disability Pride Pins - Always Moving Forward

A Disabled Artist journey in creating and spreading Disability Pride & Disability Joy.

My dearest reader,

It’s Annie writing to you all! Many of you know me from our family adventures we've shared on this platform , showcasing visible disability representation across New York City! You may not know it but I’m an artist and thrilled to share the realization of a project incredibly dear to my heart: Disability Pride Pins - Always Moving Forward. This journey, inspired by my art highlighted on the Metropolitan Museum of Art front page of their website, began almost four years ago and has since reached a significant milestone—the successful funding of my Kickstarter campaign and the creation of the real, wearable Disability Pride pins. Thanks to those of you who helped fund this!

My motivation for this project was created by the desire to elevate the Disability Pride flag, a symbol of our community's resilience and unity. Despite its significance, it remains largely unknown to many. The original flag, created by Ann Magill (click here to read more about the original flag), and the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s call for submissions from Disabled Artists for their Art & Activism ADA 30 Celebrations, inspired me to reimagine the flag’s design. My reimagined design, shows the zig-zag stripes ascending from the bottom left to the top right, representing my collective hope for ongoing, upward progress in accessibility and inclusion of people with disabilities.

During the pandemic, my family and I were heartbroken over the general state of our beloved city, with so many businesses shuttered and even more at risk. We, like many others, struggled financially but kept thinking of small ways in which we could offer support. As places began opening up with safety guidelines, we found ourselves going back to the spaces where we felt most welcomed and could afford - the arts & cultural institutions. In these times of heartbreak, we did whatever we could to support these institutions. Wearing merchandise that supported small businesses became a general symbol of pride, showcasing our love for home. This inspired our New York City tote bag idea, born from a deep, burning desire to show our love for New York City and support businesses in whatever way we could. It was through this endeavor that we became proud pin collectors, adorning our New York City tote. It was also through this endeavor we realized the complete absence of any Disability Pride merchandise in the many shops we visited. This huge gap motivated me to become the change I wished to see.

By this time, my version of the Always Moving Forward - Disability Pride design was already featured on the Met Museum’s website, so gathering up my close team, I set out to work to create the entire series of 10 progressive Disability Pride pins. The design process was influenced by my personal creativity, artistic vision, and listening to the community's feedback. The original zig-zag band represents how disabled people must navigate around and transcend barriers, and the creativity wielded to do so. However, the vibrant colors and the zig-zag design created a strobe effect on computer and phone screens, which could worsen symptoms for individuals with seizures and migraines. So, I created a newer, more accessible version of the Disability Pride flag with a gentle wave, still representing navigating barriers and less saturated colors (seen in the modified version of the original design), where my redesign pays homage to the original zig-zag while ensuring visual accessibility. This project also serves as a tribute to a digital art piece I contributed to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2020, emphasizing the impactful role cultural institutions plays in championing disability rights when they choose to do so.

Through my various pin designs, I aim to show that individuals with disabilities are capable of 'reaching for the stars,' given the right support in advocacy, accessibility, and adaptive technology depicted in my Shooting Star versions. Another version showcases an empowered wheelchair user, moving away from the common depiction of us as faceless people without personality by featuring a smile shown in a tiny gold heart on the face. I also introduced the color Brown which is a nod to Philly and their Progress LGBTQIA+ flag. It represents the Black & Brown folks who are disproportionately and systemically marginalized but are nonetheless at the forefront of the Disability Rights Movement. There is also a tremendous overlap, solidarity, and allyship between our Disability and the LGBTQIA+ Communities which I want to acknowledge and highlight here in gratitude. These designs stand as a testament to us: Disabled + yet Always Moving Forward.

It's important for you all to know about the colors used in the original Disability Pride flag, and I've kept my design true to the original meanings from Ann Magill’s version, with each color representing different aspects of disability.

Green for sensory and perception disabilities

• Blue for psychiatric disabilities
• White for invisible, non-apparent and undiagnosed disabilities
• Yellow for neurodivergence
• Red for physical disabilities affecting mobility and motor function
• Black to reflect the challenges and discrimination people with disabilities face
• Brown, my personal addition, highlights the systematic marginalization yet important role of Black and Brown folks in the Disability Rights Movement.

By presenting two design options—the classic zigzag and my gentle wave—I aim to highlight that expressing Disability Pride isn't one-size-fits-all, giving folks options to wear their pride however they wish to express themselves, while acknowledging the community's affection for the original vibrant zig-zag flag.

As so many people have come together in support of my Kickstarter campaign, I am reminded of the collective power of our voices and our interdependence. Thank you for helping me take my design from an idea to beautiful (yes, they really are!) actual products. This project extends beyond creating wearable art; it is to spark conversations to educate about Disability Pride, continue to build community, and celebrate the diversity and strength inherent in people with disabilities. We are creatives and creators, too!

Thank you for your unwavering support in spreading Disability Pride and doing your part in fostering a community where every individual, AND their disability is recognized, celebrated, and empowered as a full human being.

If you'd like to shop these pins, you can do so here: www.accessibletravelnyc.com/Shop. If you encounter any issues with the online shopping store, please contact us at llachhmanpersad@gmail.com.

With love, solidarity and beaming with Disability Pride,
Annie