New York City hosted its first Disability Pride parade over the weekend. More than 3,000 participants marched on Broadway, many using wheelchairs, canes, walking frames and guide dogs.
Mayor Bill de Blasio kicked off the parade yesterday (12 July), saying his is proud that New York is a national leader in supporting rights for disabled people. He declared July "Disability Pride Month" in honour of the 25th anniversary of a federal act that aims to guarantee equal opportunities and rights for people with disabilities.

New York celebrated its first-ever disability pride parade Sunday.

“We will roll and ride and walk together for a more just New York City,” Mayor de Blasio said before leading a crowd of a few thousand down Broadway from Madison Square Park to Union Square.

The parade marked the 25th anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act.

Former Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), the author of the landmark law, hailed progress toward accessibility but said the high unemployment rate for people with disabilities shows there are still remaining struggles.

New York City hosted its first parade Sunday supporting people with disabilities, with more than 3,000 participants heading up Broadway using wheelchairs, canes and guide dogs.

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“We're here full force,” said rapper Namel Norris, 33, now in a wheelchair after being shot in the Bronx and paralyzed as a teenager. “I thought my life was over, but music is my calling. I have a purpose in life.”

New York City held its first parade honoring people with disabilities Sunday.
Mayor Bill de Blasio addressed the crowd at the inaugural NYC Disability Pride Parade. He said he was proud of the city for being a national leader in supporting rights for disabled people. The parade route at Manhattan's Madison Square Park and went along Broadway to Union Square Park.

Thousands of people marched through the streets of New York for the city's first Disability Pride Parade Sunday, AFP reports.

People in wheelchairs and with guide dogs and parents carrying their disabled children marched during a hot day through the center of Manhattan after Mayor Bill de Blasio kicked off the event.

The event, subtitled "Inclusion, Awareness, Visibility" saw people carrying signs asking for better access to public transport and housing.

"Disabled and proud," said a sign carried by a woman in a wheelchair.

New York City holds its first annual Disability Pride Parade on Sunday, featuring a procession from Madison Square Park down Broadway to Union Square. Let’s see what it takes to participate.

You can take the subway to an N, Q and R station at Madison Square, where 23rd St. and Broadway meets 5th Ave. Oh, sorry, it’s not wheelchair accessible.

The same goes for the No. 6 stop a block away at 23rd and Park, the PATH station on Sixth Ave., the No. 1 station at Seventh Ave. and 23rd and the C/E stop at Eighth Ave.

Thousands of people marched through the streets of New York for the city's first Disability Pride Parade on Sunday.
People in wheelchairs and with guide dogs and parents carrying their disabled children marched during a hot day through the center of Manhattan after Mayor Bill de Blasio kicked off the event.
The event, subtitled 'Inclusion, Awareness, Visibility' saw people carrying signs of support and asking for better access to public transport and housing.

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) — New York City hosted its first parade honoring people with disabilities Sunday.
Mayor Bill de Blasio spoke to kick off the inaugural NYC Disability Pride Parade. He said he was proud of the city being a national leader in supporting rights for disabled people.
The parade route started at Manhattan’s Madison Square Park and went along Broadway to Union Square Park.

New York City's first-ever Disability Pride Parade may prove to be prety inaccessible for some, as most local subway stops do not have elevators.

A celebration of disabled New Yorkers’ fight for access is pretty inaccessible.

The city’s first ever Disability Pride Parade on Sunday is located in a part of Manhattan that’s lacking in elevator-equipped subway stations.

New York City hosted its first parade on Sunday supporting people with disabilities, with more than 3,000 participants heading up Broadway using wheelchairs, canes and guide dogs.

“We’re here full force,” said rapper Namel Norris, 33, in a wheelchair after being shot in the Bronx and paralyzed as a teenager. “I thought my life was over, but music is my calling, I have a purpose in life.”

Mayor Bill de Blasio kicked off the inaugural NYC Disability Pride Parade, saying he’s proud his city is a leader in supporting rights for disabled people.