SPOKANE, Wash. – Alias Franklin may not move the same way as most people, but despite her cerebral palsy, she’ll be heading to Riverfront Park this weekend for what she’s calling a “celebration” of ourselves and our community.
“Just seeing all the different disabilities that people have and coming together,” Alias said, “having the ADA celebration is like a rebirth… for me.”
Aerias is referring to the second annual “Multicultural Disability Pride Event” being held this Saturday, July 27th from 11am to 3pm at Riverfront Park.
“We’re grateful to the City of Spokane for allowing this event to take place and giving members of the disability community an opportunity to come and celebrate themselves and take pride in their disabilities and their city,” Aelius said.
Mark and Vicki Leeper are with Disability Action Center NW ( www.dacnw.org ) and are passionate about helping people in the Inland Northwest who live with both visible and invisible disabilities. Mark began working in the disability field more than 30 years ago and says it is a personal passion.
“I’d always struggled with depression and anxiety,” Mark says. “I’d attempted suicide in the past and I think my desire to understand myself also made me want to connect with people.”
Mark added that community is at its best when it includes all of us, whether we have visible or invisible struggles.
“If you live long enough, you’re going to have disabilities,” Mark says. “This isn’t a charity issue, it’s a human rights issue.”
Karl M. Johanson, DACNW’s executive director, said Saturday’s event shows that DAC is here to serve this part of Washington state.
“There are miles and miles of Northeast Washington where people need information, help and hope,” Karl said.
Karl added that, as Mark said, he is beginning to deal with the disabilities that come with age: hearing loss and vision loss.
“Everybody is going to have issues, either in their families or as individuals, where they can’t do the things they used to be able to do,” Karl says. “That’s where the disability support center comes in.”
Saturday’s event will share local resources available to people with disabilities, feature performances from local groups including Japanese dancers, a Native American drum circle, Bollywood dancers and more, and will kick off with a proclamation and speech from Mayor Lisa Brown.
“It’s about making sure that the city remains inclusive when there’s someone with a disability like me in the city,” Alias said. “I don’t necessarily focus on the challenges. For me, it’s just about living. We try to get out and move around… and advocate by being a living example.”
For a schedule and more information about Saturday’s events, visit www.DACNW.org
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