NYC Disability Pride Parade Draws Thousands

On July 12, New York City hosted a parade (the NYC Disability Pride Parade) supporting people with disabilities. This is the first time the city has hosted the NYC Disability Pride Parade, which many people participated in. Many participants in the NYC Disability Pride Parade headed up Broadway with their canes as well as wheelchairs, and many also had guide dogs. The NYC Disability Pride Parade had more than 3,000 participants, and Mayor Bill de Blasio kicked things off. He said that he was proud that NYC is a leader in supporting disabled people’s rights.

As the mayor continued to speak at the NYC Disability Pride Parade, he said that he was committed on the issue of accessibility when it comes to taxis cabs in the city. According to New York Post, around 4 percent of the cabs in the city are handicapped accessible, but over in London, every taxi cab can be accessed by those in a wheelchair.

According to SFGate, Tom Harkin, a former United States Senator, served as the NYC Disability Pride Parade’s grand marshal, which was suiting considering he sponsored the Americans With Disability Act more than 20 years ago.

As he stood in front of a huge crowd at the NYC Disability Pride Parade, Harkin said that he may no longer be a senator, as he has retired, but he was not retired from the fight. As Harkin continued to speak at the NYC Disability Pride Parade, he went on to say that when companies hire people who have disabilities, then they get the most loyal workers, as well as the most productive ones and the best of the best.

One woman who participated in the NYC Disability Pride Parade was seen with a sign that read “disabled and proud,” and others were seen with their own signs. Another sign read “achieve, I don’t let my disability stop me,” but there were many other signs at the NYC Disability Pride Parade, and they featured words of encouragement, according to Daily Mail.

A woman who participated in the NYC Disability Pride Parade said that the parade was powerful because it makes people realize that people are not struggling alone, and it is a problem that people can all work together to get through.

The first ever NYC Disability Pride Parade was a huge hit and it was fitting for it to take place in July. This is because July has been dubbed as “Disability Pride Month” by the mayor. This means that the NYC Disability Pride Parade will likely take place again next July.

The NYC Disability Pride Parade was just part of a series of events that relate to those with disabilities. Those who are in Brooklyn can go to the Brooklyn Historical Society and check out an exhibit there. The exhibit is titled “Gaining Access: The New York City Disability Rights Movement.”

[Image by Stephanie Keith/Getty Images]