The Disability Symbol

We're proposing a new disability symbol that represents all of us, and is also accessible. This is a call-in and we need communal feedback. It's time for a revolution.

Give Your Feedback!

Why Though?

Hope Hoffman teamed up with Jessica Oddi over the past year to develop a symbol, with a few things in mind:

  • Originality: a symbol that can be our flag and icon. One that represents us all without mimicking the design of other movements.
  • Accessibility: designed with enough contrast as a symbol that doesn't rely on color alone to convey meaning (WCAG 1.41).
  • Destigmatization: removing narrow representations of our community to represent all of us.
  • Community Conversations: refining concepts from our first round and inviting you all for your opinions!

The Symbol

Hope had an idea (post) and Jessica brought it to life. A loose volution (spiral). Thick in the middle with tapered round edges. Designed in a custom blue (for good reason).

We're getting feedback to revise the design concept. Downloads coming soon.

Why a Spiral?

  • Like disability, the helix spiral exists all throughout life. In our DNA, galaxies, hurricanes, snail shells, water ripples, and more. The helix spiral is inseparable from life itself, as is disability.
  • Represents growth, evolution, resilience and expansion; both in our community and fight for access.
  • The intersection of space reflects the nuances of individuality and cross-disability kinship.

Disability flag mock-up. White spiral symbol cropped on a blue flag. Edited scene from a  Mockup Cloud photo.

Connected Thought

In 2020 Aubrie Lee had a spiral-based concept for an inclusive disability symbol. This was posted on Twitter (X) in response to a post by Imani Babarin.

Read the Tweet

Hope and Jess sent an internal round of ideas to folks including Aubrie. In the feedback, Aubrie and Jess were excited to discover they both used a spiral theme.

Color Theory

Keeping it Blue-ish

Blue (North America) and Violet (UK) are used for accessibility, and for good reason! Both are most similar across levels of colour blindness. They stay analogous (from violet to aqua) with Protanopia, Deuteranopia, and Tritanopia.

Using blue/violet keeps something familiar. This makes the transition to a new symbol easier, by associating it with current accessibility standards.

Volution Blue

Our blue is softer, with a hint of violet. It's rooted in print so it won't cause strain, but still passes contrast! We tested WCAG contrast with white (4.64:1) or black (4.51:1). As well as APCA for light contrast with white (72/-77.5) and black (-29.7/32.1).

Volution Blue: Hex 4772C9. RGB (71, 114, 201). CMYK (76, 56, 0, 0).

Protanopia: Hex 595AB3. 89% similar.

Deuteranopia: Hex 5753AE. 87% similar.

Tritanopia: Hex 49A39F. 68% similar.

Achromatopsia: Hex 6F6F6F. 75% similar.

Feedback Form

We're gathering input from the community. There's nothing about us without all of us. What do you think? Please fill out the Google Form below. If you require any assistance, email contact@TheDisabilitySymbol.org.

Access Note: Gmail users have auto-save. For other emails, responses can be edited after you submit. Low on spoons? Skip to the end and submit to save your progress. Return to this form link after to edit/finish responding.

Google Form