Purple Light Up
Positively Purple (formerly Purple Light Up)
Together, Let's Take Action for Greater Disability Confidence!
On December 3rd, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, inclusive companies will demonstrate that they are #PositivelyPurple. This initiative goes beyond awareness—it's about taking concrete steps towards equal and self-determined participation for all.
We invite you to be part of this movement! As an innovative company, showcase your active commitment to accessibility and embody inclusion. Through the global Positively Purple campaign, let’s highlight the strength and diversity of people with disabilities by embracing the color purple.
myAbility is coordinating the campaign in German-speaking countries as the official partner of PurpleSpace UK. We offer you a platform to make a powerful statement. Join us in actively driving change! #PositivelyPurple
From Purple Light Up to Positively Purple
The #PurpleLightUp campaign has evolved. With the #PositivelyPurple message, Kate Nash (PurpleSpace), the UK-based founder, aims to emphasize the positive contributions and achievements of people with disabilities. The focus has shifted from simply lighting up buildings in purple to taking meaningful actions and engaging in active dialogue with employees with disabilities. A key goal of Positively Purple is to strengthen Employee Resource Groups (ERGs). These are voluntary, employee-led groups that, for instance, advocate for greater inclusion. ERGs play a crucial role in promoting inclusion and equality in the workplace and can support the necessary cultural shift within companies.
In recent years, illuminating prominent buildings has raised visibility for the campaign and the issue of disability. Now, it’s time to move beyond visibility and awareness to focus on disability, accessibility, and inclusion in a more substantive way.
We are now taking concrete steps and measures. Participating companies can show: We are #PositivelyPurple and we embody inclusion!
What is the Positively Purple Campaign?
The Positively Purple campaign (formerly Purple Light Up) was launched in 2017 in England by Kate Nash and PurpleSpace, using the color purple to create a visible symbol for inclusion and diversity worldwide and to celebrate the contributions of employees and customers with disabilities.
Positively Purple takes place annually around December 3rd—the International Day of Persons with Disabilities—and focuses on economic empowerment, participation, and the contributions of people with disabilities.
Companies, associations, organizations, and individuals are invited to participate in the campaign with various purple-themed actions and publicly advocate for greater inclusion, accessibility, and equal opportunities in the economy and workplace. The participants' purple actions range from lighting up buildings, to diverse social media posts, to internal and external events. Ideally, you should involve colleagues with disabilities and engage with them directly.
Make your commitment to inclusion and accessibility visible
Show that your company recognizes the contributions of employees and customers with disabilities to your success, and advocate for an inclusive and accessible economy!
How Can You Participate in Positively Purple?
- Register your company free of charge and without obligation. Registrations for 2024 are possible from August 28: Positively Purple 2024 Registration Form.
- Receive ideas, guidelines, and the new Positively Purple graphics and logos for your actions.
- Use the hashtag #PositivelyPurple.
- Share photos, videos, or articles showcasing your contributions.
- myAbility will support your public relations efforts and increase your reach.
Are you already actively implementing disability initiatives for employees and/or customers with disabilities? Use the campaign to make your commitment visible. Or are you interested in the topics of an inclusive economy and accessibility but are still in the early stages? Use the campaign to highlight your planned activities for 2025.
You can find suggestions and examples of actions in the report on PurpleLightUp 2023.
Purple Light Up Ambassador for the DACH Region
Lena Öllinger (she/her) is Senior DisAbility Management Consultant at myAbility, certified expert for barrier-free building and board member of the Forum Usher Syndrome, Hearing Impairment and Deafblindness.
Since 2022, Lena Öllinger has been an official PurpleLightUp Ambassador for the German-speaking region.
📧Mail: Lena.Oellinger@myAbility.org