The City of Dallas Office of Housing and Community Empowerment, in collaboration with the Commission on Disabilities and community partners, hosted the inaugural Disability Pride Flag Raising Ceremony at Dallas City Hall on July 15, 2026, in recognition of Disability Pride Month.
The ceremony brought together City Council, City leadership, members of the Commission on Disabilities, community organizations, advocates, residents, and City staff to celebrate the contributions and experiences of people with disabilities. The program included welcome remarks from the Office of Housing and Community Empowerment, Commission Chair John Kalkanli, Council Member Gay Donnell Willis, a reading of the City of Dallas Disability Pride Month Proclamation, and the raising of the Disability Pride Flag at Dallas City Hall Plaza.
“Recognizing Disability Pride Month at City Hall is an important reminder that accessibility requires ongoing commitment, collaboration, and action,” said Assistant City Manager Liz Cedillo-Pereira. “The City of Dallas values the voices of residents with disabilities who help guide our work toward a more accessible and welcoming Dallas.”
Council Member Gay Donnell Willis reflected on the significance of raising the Disability Pride Flag and the message it sends to residents with disabilities.
“Raising this flag at City Hall tells every resident with a disability: You belong here. You matter here. And you deserve a Dallas that works for you,” said Council Member Gay Donnell Willis. “The Disability Pride Flag also represents a public commitment: to listen to people with disabilities, include their expertise in the decisions that affect them, and continue the work required to make accessibility real throughout our city.”
The Disability Pride Flag, redesigned in 2021 by Ann Magill with input from the disability community, represents the broad spectrum of disability experiences. Its colors represent physical disabilities (red), neurodiversity (gold), invisible and undiagnosed disabilities (white), psychiatric disabilities (blue), and sensory disabilities (green), while the diagonal design symbolizes breaking through barriers.
On June 24, 2026, the Dallas City Council approved the display of the Disability Pride Flag at Dallas City Hall Plaza from July 15 through July 31, 2026, and annually thereafter from July 1 through July 31. The initiative was recommended by the Commission on Disabilities and advanced in partnership with the Office of Housing and Community Empowerment. The Disability Pride Flag will remain on display at Dallas City Hall Plaza through July 31, 2026.
The flag raising also recognizes the history, advocacy, and contributions of people with disabilities.
“The Disability Pride Flag affirms that people with disabilities are deserving of dignity, respect, and equal recognition. It also honors the lived experiences of individuals who came before us and pushed, spoke up, and organized to implement the change that everyone had hoped for,” said John Kalkanli, Chair of the City of Dallas Commission on Disabilities.
Continuing the Work
The Disability Pride Flag represents more than a month of recognition. It reflects the City’s ongoing commitment to advancing equal access and expanding opportunities for people with disabilities.
Resources
Learn about programs, services, and tools available to Dallas residents, community organizations, and businesses.
- Report accessibility concerns within the City of Dallas through the City’s ADA complaint process.
- Explore Fair Housing resources or submit a Fair Housing complaint if you believe you have experienced housing discrimination
- Understand how the City works to advance non-discrimination in programs, services, and activities by reading the City’s Title VI Program Compliance Plan and reaching out to the City’s Title VI Coordinator for more information.
- Explore the Dallas Regional Chamber’s Disability Inclusion Toolkit to support disability inclusion in workplaces and communities.
Get Involved
Whether you’re a resident, City employee, business, or community organization, you can support accessibility efforts by:
- Attend a Commission on Disabilities meeting to stay informed and provide public comment. Meetings are held on the fourth Tuesday of every month, except for July and December.
- Explore opportunities to serve on the Commission as a Commissioner or Technical Advisory Panelist by submitting an application with the City Secretary’s Office.
- Help advance employment opportunities for people with disabilities by engaging with the EmployAbility Career Expo and Job Fair to be held on October 20, 2026.
- Learn more about the City’s ADA Transition Plan.
- City of Dallas employees: Join the Disabilities and Accessibilities Employee Resource Group (DAERG).
- Access guidance and resource materials available at ADA.gov, including more about requirements for web content accessibility.
About the City of Dallas Office of Housing and Community Empowerment
About the City of Dallas Commission on Disabilities
The Commission on Disabilities advises the Dallas City Council and City staff on matters affecting residents with disabilities, advocates for accessible programs, services, and facilities, and provides a forum for community engagement.
