Jazz Legends for Disability Pride

Written by Disability Pride on December 11th, 2015February 3rd, 2016.

Jazz Legends for Disability Pride is a fund raiser Jazz concert on Jan 14, 2016 in partnership with the 2016 NYC Winter Jazz Fest. Jazz greats like Wynton Marsalis, Benny Golson, Christian McBride, Jimmy Cobb, Monty Alexander, Harold Mabern George Coleman,Buster Williams, Louis Hayes, Bill Charlap and many others will be featured. Because of this fund raiser last year Disability Pride NYC was able to realize the first annual Disability Pride Parade in New York City held on July 12, 2015. This is a night of music you will never forget because you will be part of something much deeper than simply a Jazz concert. You will experience a night of music that features the finest Jazz musicians in the world coming together and donating their talents in support of a very important and worthy cause. When that happens there’s a depth that is added to the music, and the night, that is truly unique.

Disability Pride NYC is a not for profit started by Jazz pianist/organist Mike LeDonne whose 11 year old daughter, Mary, is disabled. Our goal is to instill a sense of pride in the community and change the public perception of people with disabilities. One of the ways we will accomplish this goal is by establishing an annual Disability Pride parade in New York City. We aim to support people with disabilities in whatever way we can.

The concert will take place from 6:30PM – 9:30 PM at The Quaker Friends Meeting Hall, 15 Rutherford Pl. All ticket purchases are tax deductible. For additional info please visit the Winter Jazz Fest website or call LPR’s Box Office 212.505.3474.

Here is the ticket link for the concert: https://www.ticketprophet.com/events/10192/orders/new

First Annual Disability Pride Parade to Captivate the Big Apple

Written by Disability Pride on July 7th, 2015February 3rd, 2016.

(Original article from Abilities.com by Amy Meisner-Threet, DPNYC board member, MSW, SAG-AFTRA. Read the full article here.)

This year’s historic First Annual Disability Pride Parade will take place Sunday, July 12, 2015 in New York City. The day will be a celebration of people with disabilities joined by their families, friends and thousands of New Yorkers who make up this diverse city. Come and enjoy the music, dance, comedy and speakers!

The program begins in Madison Square Park at 10 am, with a pre-parade show and rally. The Parade kicks off at noon, and will proceed down Broadway to Union Square, through the well-ramped entrance on 16th Street. There will be ramps, curb cuts and barriers set up to enter the plaza. The NYPD along with volunteers will be available to assist people in an organized fashion.

Awe-Inspiring Talent Headlines Disability Pride Parade

There will be a diverse group of performers at both stages with many abilities, a variety of music and different styles of dance including Latin, Middle Eastern, Jazz, Pop, Rap, Rock and Musical Theatre.

We have Blessing Offer, finalist from The Voice as well as Matthew Whitaker, a jazz organ prodigy. Dancers include pioneer in disability dance Kitty Lunn. Johnny Crescendo, a civil rights pioneer and folksinger, will also be joining us.

Emcees include Andea Dalzell, Ms. Wheelchair New York 2015. Speakers Victor Calise, Commissioner from The Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities, Councilwoman Rosie Mendez, Councilwoman Margarita Lopez and Michael J. Schweinsburg, Executive Director of DPNYC.

Talent is coordinated by Brooke Fox and myself. And hat’s off to Brooke, who painstakingly put together the running of the program with constant changes.

Musician and Father to Child with Disabilities Launched Disability Pride NYC

Although the Disability Independence Day March occurred on July 26, 1992, with subsequent marches in NYC, this will be our first large scale Pride Parade in NYC. There have been very successful Disability Pride Parades in other states, including New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Chicago has been hosting Disability Pride Parades for 12 years.

The creation of our organization, Disability Pride NYC (DPNYC) can be attributed to jazz musician, Mike LeDonne, President and Founder of DPNYC. A fixture on the jazz scene here in New York, nationally and internationally acclaimed, he is also a devoted father. His daughter Mary, 11, was born with Prader-Willi Syndrome, a genetic disorder that has left her with developmental disabilities, without speech, legally blind and often using a wheelchair.

(Read the full article here on the Abilities.com website)

Come visit Us at the Abilities Expo May 1-3, 2015

Written by Disability Pride on May 2nd, 2015June 11th, 2015.

We will be at the New York Metro Abilities Expo on May 1-3, 2015 at the New Jersey Convention and Expo Center, where we would like to introduce you to all the great things we have to offer! In addition to us, you can look forward to the latest products and services, information-packed workshops and fun activities for the whole family. Don’t miss THE leading event for people with disabilities, their families, caregivers, seniors, veterans and healthcare professionals.

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