This July marks 34 years of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and a celebration of Disability Pride. On July 14th, the Disability Unite Festival will honor the occasion through entertainment and advocacy both at the Central Park Naumberg Bandshell and online for virtual revelers. Founded in 2020 by the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD) and Project Access for All, the goal of Disability Unite was to create an inclusive virtual celebration of Disability Pride and the 30th Anniversary of the ADA at a time when all in-person activities were canceled due to COVID-19. The focus then was on vital services, but as Disability Unite’s Founder and Director, Matt Axel, pointed out, “arts, culture, and celebrating pride are also vital to life.”
The Disability Unite team could have used any of the existing virtual platforms, but they weren’t inclusive enough, so they created their own platform with three stages and four streaming options including captions, audio descriptions, American Sign Language, and plain language. “Our community deserves a platform that puts access first; access is not an add-on. It should be built in as you create something,” Axel explained.
In 2022, the NYC Commission on Human Rights took up the mantle of being Disability Unite’s City Agency Partner. This helped keep advocacy as a key focus alongside entertainment. Axel shared that one of the most powerful things that he encountered while planning the event is that each group under the broad umbrella of the disability community has its own community with a rich culture and specific needs. And yet, disability organizations around NYC recognize that we are “stronger together.”
Through this notion, much can be achieved. For example, one of the key advocacy wins from the 2022 Disability Unite Festival was that a number of high ranking New York City Police Department (NYPD) members attended to connect with and learn from disability community members, and as a result, NYPD is piloting training programs to work with diverse needs of disabled people.
That year was the first in-person Disability Unite Festival, and I had the privilege of attending. 5,000 people joined in Central Park and 2,000 joined virtually. There was music that engaged the soul, art that patrons could touch, and tables with services from across the city. It was the type of event where you found what and who you needed, making connections along the way.
This year, Disability Unite is back both virtually and in person on three stages. The festival’s theme is Championing Change: Past, Present, & Future.” It will look at the festival’s evolution, celebrate the 34th anniversary of the ADA, and recognize both the work that has been done and that is yet to come.
On the main stage, attendees will get to enjoy some of the hottest disabled performers, including Wawa’s World, James Ian, and The Disability Hip Hop Jam Featuring 4 Wheel City & Friends. And one of the major virtual draws this year is Disability Unite’s Got Talent. Disabled performers from across the globe had the opportunity to be nominated and there was a voting process to choose the top 10, who will perform virtually at the festival.
In addition to performances, there is a lot more happening at this year’s event. Kids will have the opportunity to take part in a project making banners that will adorn the streets of New York. There will be cooperative art making with disabled artists and allies. Patrons will get to embrace their zen moment with accessible yoga and embrace texture with a loom workshop. A calm section will be designated for when you just need to take space. And display tables will feature a bevy of services and opportunities within the five boroughs.
Interested in attending? Learn more and join the festivities by visiting DisabilityUnite.org