Two Parades Connected By a Common Theme: Pride
I recently marched with Community Access in two parades with a common theme: Pride. On June 28 I walked in the LGBTQ Pride March, and on July 12 I marched in NYC’s first-ever Disability Pride Parade.
I joined Community Access in the LGBT Pride March because I am a supporter of equal rights. You don’t need to be directly affected by a cause to have pride – you just have to be part of the solution.
In contrast, I marched in the Disability Pride Parade as a person living with three disabilities. Eleven years ago I marched in the first-ever Disability Pride Parade in Chicago, and was thrilled to be part of New York City’s first! About 100 people marched with Community Access, and over 3,000 people attended the event. I got the chance to see many old friends, and could not stop grinning all day. I felt welcomed marching with Community Access - I was where I belonged.
I marched because I am a person and not my disability. These are the cards I was dealt and will make them into a winning hand. If you take the first three letters out of the word disability you get ability – at the celebration following the parade there were many gifted performers with various disabilities, ranging from physical to sensory to developmental. Having a disability does not restrict talent.
We don’t need to be cured. We don’t need to be pitied. We just need to be accepted, respected, trusted, and provided with the appropriate resources to reach our potentials. I should be able to go anywhere and be treated the same way as everyone else. We still have a long way to go, but if we continue to show and share our pride, we will get where we need to get one day.
