How the City is celebrating accessibility and equity.
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Buffalo’s Disability Pride Festival kicks off on Friday.
The City of Buffalo will celebrate Disability Pride Month in July and the 34th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26th from 2pm to 6pm at Canalside.
The festival will feature a range of performers who identify as disabled or have personally dealt with disabilities, as well as a children’s area and information fair.
The ADA prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities, and the festival celebrates progress for people with disabilities.
Mayor Byron Brown and Buffalo City Council will raise the Disability Pride flag in front of Niagara Square.
“Disability Pride Month is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the many ways people with disabilities contribute to the diversity and strength of our community,” Brown said. “We celebrate the unique talents and skills of our disability community and reaffirm our commitment to building a city that is inclusive of all.”
The festival will also introduce new members to the Buffalo Disability Advisory Committee. The reconstituted committee advises the city on policies and procedures to support Buffalo’s people with disabilities.
Committee members include Crystal Moore Jones, Kirby Briggs, Annette Spencer, Todd Verwork, Dinora Santos, Bradford Watts, Jackie Rushton, Andrea Harden, BJ Stasio, Maria Bell and Chanel Davis.
As part of the changes, the number of members on the commission was reduced from 21 to 11. Members are appointed by the mayor and serve staggered terms. At least six commissioners are people with disabilities. The commission meets at least four times a year to advise on policy, monitor accessibility, and report deficiencies.
Buffalo City Hall will be lit up in the colors of the Disability Pride flag on July 24th and 25th.
The colours of the flag represent different disabilities.
Black background: Commemorating victims of ableism abuse and violence, Diagonal band: Breaking down barriers that hold people back from disability, Red stripe: Physical disability, Gold stripe: Neurodevelopmental disability, White stripe: Undiagnosed invisible disability, Blue stripe: Mental disability, Green stripe: Sensory disability