Disability Pride Parade Set: Show Your Pride!

After months of hard work, the NYC Disability Parade is almost here!

Disability Pride NYC (DPNYC) is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is working with the Mayor’s Office of People With Disabilities to present the First Annual Disability Pride Parade. The parade will kickoff on Sunday, July 12 at Madison Square Park and will march down Broadway. Entertainers and speakers will pump up the excitement before step off at noon from Fifth Ave. and 26th street to join former U.S. Senator Tom Harkin in front of the famed Flatiron Building.

From there they will proceed down Broadway to Union Square’s north-end plaza. The parade will culminate with a three-hour extravaganza on the big stage, featuring luminaries and exciting performances from musicians, dancers, comedians and other stars of TV, stage and screen, as well as appearances by prominent elected officials. A three-block festival will continue along the park’s western perimeter.

This year, together with M.O.P.D., celebrates the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Americans With Disabilities Act, which is the codification of our civil rights. Senator Harkin was the author of the final bill that became the A.D.A. law and will serve as a grand marshal.

Mike LeDonne, Founder and organizer of NYC Disability Pride

Mike LeDonne, Founder and organizer of NYC Disability Pride

DPNYC was founded nearly four years ago by Mike LeDonne, an accomplished jazz musician who has a daughter with multiple disabilities. While walking her to school four years ago, when she was a first grader, he rightfully became increasingly annoyed that other parents would allow their children to turn around and point and gawk at young Mary. He wondered how those parents could display such a blatant form of discrimination. He set about to change that and last year a committee was formed, and together we began to make remarkable progress.

For those interested in participating, please contact Michael Schweinsburg, Executive Director or M.O.P.D. Mayor de Blasio and Commissioner Calise are encouraging all to participate.

The Bronx Democratic County Committee will be marching along with other Bronx organizations. Please feel free to join BDCC Chairman Assemblyman Marcos Crespo, Executive Director Anthony Perez, Lewis Goldstein, liaison to the Disability Community, and many others on July 12. Please click on this link to register and join the disability community.

paradeflyer

 

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