Positively Purple
Positively Purple (formerly Purple Light Up)
Together, let’s take action for greater DisAbility Confidence!
On the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on 3 December, inclusive companies show that they are #PositivelyPurple. This is about more than awareness. It is about concrete steps towards equal and self-determined participation for all.
Show that you are actively committed to accessibility and that inclusion is part of how you work. As part of the global Positively Purple campaign, we use the colour purple to put the strengths and contributions of people with disabilities in the spotlight.
myAbility has been coordinating the campaign in the German-speaking region since 2019 as the official partner of PurpleSpace UK.
What is the Positively Purple Campaign?
The Positively Purple campaign (known as Purple Light Up until 2023) was launched in England in 2017 by Kate Nash and PurpleSpace. It uses the colour purple as a visible symbol for inclusion and diversity worldwide and celebrates the contributions of employees and customers with disabilities.
Positively Purple takes place every year around 3 December, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. It focuses on the economic self-determination and participation of people with disabilities and on their contributions.
Companies, associations, organisations and individuals are invited to take part with their own purple-themed activities and to speak up publicly for more inclusion, accessibility and equal opportunities in business and the workplace. Participants' actions range from lighting up buildings to social media posts and internal or external events. Ideally, you involve colleagues with disabilities and engage in dialogue with them.
Make your commitment to inclusion and accessibility visible
Show that your company recognises the contribution of employees and customers with disabilities to its success, and stand up for an inclusive and accessible economy!
How can you take part in Positively Purple?
► Are you already implementing disability inclusion measures for employees and/or customers with disabilities? Then use the campaign to make your commitment visible and put concrete projects into action. Show that inclusion is part of everyday practice in your organisation.
This could be, for example:
- An accessible event
- A digital accessibility audit
- A workshop
- A published inclusion statement
- A clear internal commitment from senior management
- An overview of your measures and future plans
► Or do you find inclusive business and accessibility important and exciting but are only just getting started? Then use the campaign to plan concrete steps and define activities and goals for 2027.
Information on participation
- Companies can download all campaign information from our website and use it freely.
- Participation in the campaign is free of charge.
- myAbility no longer coordinates media coverage or offers free consulting on planned activities.
myAbility is happy to support you as part of its consulting and training services, with workshops, keynotes, feedback on your action plans or support in making your initiatives accessible.
From Purple Light Up to Positively Purple
The #PurpleLightUp campaign has evolved and has been called #PositivelyPurple since 2024. With this change, its UK founder Kate Nash (PurpleSpace) aims to draw even more attention to the positive contributions and achievements of people with disabilities. The focus is no longer on lighting up buildings in purple, but on concrete measures and active dialogue with employees with disabilities. Strengthening Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) is a stated goal of Positively Purple. ERGs are voluntary, employee-led groups that champion causes such as inclusion. They play an important role in promoting inclusion and equality in the workplace and can support the cultural change many companies need.
In recent years, lighting up prominent buildings has brought visibility to the campaign and to disability as a topic. Now it is time to go beyond visibility and raising awareness of disability, accessibility and inclusion.
Now it is time for concrete action. Participating companies can show: We are #PositivelyPurple and inclusion is part of how we work!