BUFFALO, N.Y. — Buffalo's Disability Pride Festival kicks off on Friday.
On July 26 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Canalside, the City of Buffalo is celebrating the month of Disability Pride in July and the 34th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
The festival will have various performers who identify as disabled or have dealt with disability personally as well as a children's area and information fair.
ADA banned discrimination against those with disabilities and the festival celebrates the progress people with disabilities have made.
Mayor Byron Brown and the Buffalo Common Council will raise the Disability Pride Flag in front of Niagara Square.
“Disability Pride Month is a great opportunity to celebrate the many ways people living with disabilities add to the diversity and strength of our community,” said Brown. “We celebrate the unique talents and skills of our disability community and reaffirm our commitment to build a city that’s inclusive to everyone.”
The festival will also be introducing the new members of the Buffalo Advisory Committee for Persons with Disabilities. The restructured committee advises the city on policies and procedures to help Buffalo residents with disabilities.
The Committee members include Chrystal Moore-Jones, Kirby Briggs, Annette Spencer, Todd Vaarwerk, Dinorah Santos, Bradford Watts, Jackie Rushton, Andrea Harden, BJ Stasio, Maria Bell, and Shanell Davis.
As part of the change, the Committee decreased the number of members from 21 to 11. The members are appointed by the mayor and serve staggered terms. At least six committee members are people with disabilities. The Committee will meet a minimum of four times per year and advise policies, monitor accessibility, and report deficiencies.
Buffalo City Hall will be lit in the Disability Pride Flag colors on July 24 and 25.
The flag colors represent different disabilities.
- Black background: Remembrance of victims of ableist abuse and violence
- Diagonal band: Cutting through the barriers that block those with disabilities
- Red stripe: Physical disabilities
- Gold stripe: Neurodivergence
- White stripe: Undiagnosed and invisible disabilities
- Blue stripe: Psychiatric disabilities
- Green stripe: Sensory disabilities
